Portraits of fear and loss

Taliban rule through the eyes of four women in Afghanistan

Story by Loveday Morris and Ruby Mellen
Illustrations by Roshi Rouzbehani
Jan. 12, 2022

Nothing is truly the same in Afghanistan for many women whose lives were turned inside out last summer. The spaces that were once theirs in Kabul and other cities — classrooms, jobs, even the streets themselves — are no longer in their hands. The Taliban is now in charge.

Women who had been active in public life have hunkered down in hiding. With the economy tanking, dreams of running businesses and getting degrees have been replaced with the daily struggle to survive. ... Restrictions permeate nearly every aspect of women’s lives, despite Taliban promises to protect their rights. .... Secondary schools remain closed for girls and women.

Their faces are disappearing from public life. Some didn’t even wait for Taliban orders to act. In August, at one hair salon in Kabul, photos of women on window posters were blacked over in advance to avoid attracting the militants’ attention. In November, women were banned from appearing in television dramas.

Last month, taxi drivers were told not to accept women wishing to travel more than 45 miles without a male chaperone. But in a time of fear and uncertainty, some have faced problems walking alone even for short distances in their neighborhoods.

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About this story

The reporting in this story is based on the women’s personal accounts. Reporters Ruby Mellen and Loveday Morris stayed in touch with the women over four months with weekly phone calls and regular WhatsApp messages. The illustrations in this piece are based on photos and videos shared by them. Some of the women used nicknames or initials out of fear for their safety.

Credits: Editing by Reem Akkad, Jennifer Amur and Brian Murphy. Design and development by Yutao Chen. Illustrations by Roshanak Rouzbehani. Animation by Emma Kumer. Design and illustration editing by Suzette Moyer and Brian Gross. Translation by Mahnaz Rezaie. Copy editing by Karen Funfgeld. Photography by Helynn Ospina. Photo editing by Olivier Laurent.

Loveday Morris
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Loveday Morris is The Washington Post's Berlin bureau chief. She was previously based in Jerusalem, Baghdad and Beirut for The Post.

Ruby Mellen
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Ruby Mellen reports on foreign affairs for the Washington Post.