In Afghanistan, in Herat, under the Taliban regime, desperate women: "The air has been taken from us"

Sanam, an Afghan woman, recounts the impact of the Taliban's return to power on her life, particularly regarding education and protests. After the Taliban barred girls from schools in March 2022, Sanam's clandestine English school also closed in 2026. On June 9, during a protest in Herat against the detention of women for violating dress codes, Taliban forces opened fire on demonstrators, causing panic. Accompanied by her family, Sanam experienced the chaos firsthand, highlighting the ongoing struggles faced by women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule.