When Books Become a Battlefield: The Struggle of Afghan Girls for Education

For a long time, girls and women have been considered weak, emotional, and dependent—especially in societies like mine, Afghanistan. But through my own journey and the stories of other brave Afghan girls, I have learned that we are far stronger than the world expects.

In today’s world, there are still corners of this earth where the voices of half the population remain unheard. I am one of those girls—an Afghan girl who has fought in the heart of darkness. But I chose not to remain silent. I have decided to speak, write, and fight for the rights of those girls in Afghanistan who have been left behind.

I grew up in a country with over 40 years of war—a country where people didn’t even have the chance to live peacefully. In my homeland, people struggle to survive, let alone dream. Amidst all these miseries, being a girl presents a distinct and constant challenge.

Being a girl in Afghanistan is never simple. Girls have always been deprived of their basic rights, and others have continuously made decisions on their behalf—from denying them education to forcing them into marriage. While much is said about girls’ rights after the return of the Taliban, the truth is, even before that, many girls in remote areas never had the right to education. Some families still believe that educating girls is of no benefit. They fear what society might think if their daughters attend school or university. In such conservative communities, girls and women have always been the first victims.

But why is there so much inequality? Why should girls be deprived of education? These questions have always haunted me, and I’ve never found true answers.

I consider myself incredibly fortunate that my family—especially my father—has always supported my education. But that doesn’t mean the path has been easy. Even before the return of the Taliban, I faced countless difficulties as a girl. Their return made everything worse.

My story is not unique—it mirrors the stories of thousands of Afghan girls. In 2021, just before the Taliban returned, I was selected for the LEAP Leadership Program in India, supported by the U.S. Embassy. I was one of only two girls chosen from my province. I dreamed of traveling and learning. But when the Taliban came back to power, those dreams were silenced overnight. And that was just the beginning.

I was heartbroken when the Taliban announced that girls could no longer attend school beyond grade six. Fortunately, I was among the last group of girls who managed to graduate after their return. Soon after, girls were banned from taking university entrance exams. I remember the pain of watching boys walk freely into their future while I sat at home, unsure if I’d ever sit in a classroom again.

But I did not give up. I refused to let darkness steal my light. Even at a young age, I began working for the girls of my country. I joined the Education Light Program, supported by an American woman, where I taught English to girls and women who had never had access to basic language education. Alongside my colleagues, I organized seminars and book reading sessions—even in our own homes—despite the serious risks.

These efforts show one truth: Afghan girls and women will never give up on learning. Because education is not just a right—it is a survival tool.

To me, education is not just about reading and writing. It means freedom. It means growth. It means learning how to think, how to make decisions, and how to build a brighter future. When a society deprives half of its population of education, it loses half of its strength and capacity to develop. But when a girl becomes educated, she strengthens her entire society. An educated girl becomes a more aware mother, capable of raising a better, brighter generation.

In recent years, Afghan girls have endured immense suffering—but they have also shown incredible courage. They even stood against the Taliban and demanded their rights, but their voices were silenced. Still, they are fighting.

But we need support—support from our families, our society, our government, and the global community. I urge families to raise their voices for their daughters. We must challenge and change this gender inequality in Afghanistan.

Today, I am not just an Afghan student in a foreign land who left her country through many struggles. I raise my voice for the girls back home who have been silenced. I am currently studying my favorite subject—International Relations—at Pakistan’s top university, Quaid-i-Azam University. But my dreams are not just for myself. I hope for a day when every Afghan girl will be able to chase her dreams freely.

I urge the international community: do not leave Afghan girls behind. The world must hear us. Raise your voices for us. I hope, with all my heart, for a day when no Afghan girl will have to fight for her right to education. A day when girls will live without fear, discrimination, or silence.

I, and girls like me, will not be silenced.
We will keep going—not just for ourselves, but for every girl still waiting for her rights.