Afghan Women Face Harsh Reality After Deportation from Iran

Three Afghan sisters, deported from Iran, confront the grim realities of their homeland, where the Taliban imposes stringent regulations on women's lives.

Returning to Afghanistan after being expelled from Iran, three sisters found their hopes dashed as they faced stringent restrictions under Taliban rule. Marwa, 18, shared her unsettling thoughts about acquiring headscarves and outfits that fit the oppressive norms expected for women in Afghanistan. "Afghanistan is like a cage for women, and we’re coming back to that cage," lamented her youngest sister Khurshid, aged 17, who expressed her artistic aspirations stifled by the regime.

This year, Iran has forcibly expelled over 1.4 million Afghans, dismantling the dreams of many, particularly women and girls who had access to education and employment. Neighboring Pakistan has reportedly begun implementing similar deportation policies, further jeopardizing the safety of women escaping the Taliban's rule.

The reestablishment of the Taliban-led government has led to some of the harshest restrictions globally on women and girls. As it stands, Afghan girls are barred from education beyond the sixth grade, while women face challenges concerning employment, public spaces, and autonomy in travel, reliant instead on male guardianship.

While Khurshid defiantly refused to wear a hijab during their border crossing into Afghanistan, her sisters recognized the increasingly precarious reality they were returning to, suggesting that they would have to adapt to the oppressive regime's demands.