Five years have passed since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan following the government’s collapse in August 2021. During this time, Canada has welcomed more than 60,000 Afghan refugees.
Among them is Farkhunda Hashimy, who has been relishing her newfound life and freedom in Saskatoon since arriving with her family in 2023. Previously a high school student in Kabul, Hashimy reminisced about the good life in Afghanistan before the Taliban’s regime seized power. She had the privilege of attending high school, pursuing further education, and building a career.
Unfortunately, her plans were abruptly halted when the Taliban forbade girls from attending university or engaging in any form of work or education post their high school graduation. This drastic change led to the closure of opportunities that Hashimy had dreamt of, including her aspiration to become an athlete, particularly in soccer.
The Taliban has implemented over 100 decrees affecting the daily lives of women and girls in Afghanistan. Prior to their rule, the country boasted a significant number of women in higher education; however, now girls are restricted from receiving education beyond Grade 6.
Natasha Arnpriester, a senior legal counsel at the Open Society Justice Initiative, highlighted the stark contrast in women’s rights before and after the Taliban’s regime. She emphasized the significant regression in women’s rights, which has led to severe impediments in education, livelihoods, and healthcare access for women in Afghanistan.
Hashimy’s family recognized the escalating danger in Kabul and sought refuge elsewhere. They eventually found sanctuary in Saskatoon with the help of the 30 Birds Foundation, an organization dedicated to aiding Afghan women and girls in peril. To date, the foundation has facilitated the safe passage of more than 400 Afghan women and girls to Saskatoon, including Hashimy and her family.
Hashimy, now studying urban planning at the University of Saskatchewan, expressed immense gratitude towards the foundation for saving her family’s lives. While she embraces her new life in Canada, her thoughts remain with the women and girls enduring hardships back in Afghanistan under the Taliban’s rule.
Driven by a sense of solidarity with her fellow women, Hashimy is determined to succeed and ultimately contribute towards empowering those still suffering in Afghanistan. She envisions a future where she can use her education and skills to advocate for women’s rights and support her homeland from afar.
