My Aunt's Story

It's the same story facing all Afghan women

Women of Afghanistan stand outside the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Wednesday, March 1, 2006. President George W. Bush and Laura Bush made a surprise visit to the city and presided over a ceremonial ribbon-cutting at the embassy. (Erik Draper, Commons)

I want to tell you about my aunt. I have lots of aunts, but today I’m going to talk about my Aunt Zuhal. Before the fall of Afghanistan, we used to spend time with her and our other relatives. Aunt Zuhal was funny and smart, and she was my favorite aunt! I love all my aunts, but she was special because she always made me feel comfortable. When I was 6 or 7, she taught me to cut onions, wash dishes, and much more.

The last time I saw her was the day I left Afghanistan. She helped me take a shower, get dressed, and do my hair. During our farewell, I was little and didn’t understand why everyone was crying, so I tried to cry with everyone but couldn’t!

Now, my Aunt Zuhal and our other relatives are stuck in Afghanistan under Taliban control. She’s having a really hard time. The Taliban won’t let girls go to school after the 6th grade. My aunt wanted to become a doctor, but the Taliban have banned all girls from education.

Even when she wants to go out of the house and help her daughter, Taiba, with her handicraft products, my uncle won’t let her leave the house because the Taliban are forcing young girls into marriage.

I feel so bad for my aunt; she is living like a prisoner in her own house, but it’s not just about her. It’s about every girl in Afghanistan.

This is what life is like for girls there! They can only attend school until the sixth grade. What will they do when they are 18 or 19? How can they get a job with so little education?

How is that fair?

How does that help them? Everyone deserves to have an education and a job! But why aren’t they allowed?

It’s not fair!

I wish I could be powerful enough to stop the Taliban. I really wish I could.