Guest Article: My Daily Life Under Taliban Rule

Written by Khairullah, a Kabul-based former teacher

Sep 12, 2024

The social landscape in Afghanistan has undergone profound changes since the Taliban's return to power. This period has been marked by significant restrictions on civil liberties, primarily affecting women and marginalized communities. The Taliban's imposition of their interpretations of Islamic law has reshaped daily life, leading to widespread fear, uncertainty, and a drastic shift in the social fabric of the nation. They are depicting some of their positive actions through social media to the world, such as improving security conditions or constructing some highways. They are restricting most of the facts to conceal their misconduct and prevent the exposure of their negative aspects. This article explores some of the current social realities faced by Afghans, highlighting the challenges and resilience of the population under this new regime.

a view of a city with mountains in the background — Photo by Mohammad Husaini on Unsplash

The Taliban's rise to power has reshaped Afghanistan in many ways, causing many devastating consequences for the Afghan people. Brain drain, one of the most significant consequences, has resulted in many educated professionals - including doctors, engineers, academics, and artists – fleeing the country in search of safety and stability. The impact is especially severe in the healthcare sector, where the shortage of professional doctors has forced Afghans to seek medical treatment in neighboring countries, spending a significant amount of money that many cannot afford. In addition to the shortage of professional doctors, local hospitals face a scarcity of essential medicines. The halt of medicine imports from other countries into Afghanistan post the regime change has led to the unavailability of certain medications.

The Education sector is another area that has been adversely affected; most qualified professors have left the country, causing a decline in the quality of education and making young students reluctant to pursue their undergraduate studies in Afghanistan. One of the locals, an undergraduate computer science student, says, "The quality of the undergraduate degree program has dropped significantly, diminishing the value of my undergraduate degree. This means I won't learn advanced programming languages or data science software, limiting my ability to build a strong professional career after graduation or apply to a renowned graduate university."

Harassment has emerged as an additional significant concern for both men and women still living in Afghanistan. Men and women are getting harassed in different forms, and they cannot respond as they are afraid to speak out. There have been many stories about the situation in Kabul and other provinces.

One of the locals of Afghanistan who belonged to a minority racial and religious group shared his story about an incident that happened to him in one of the public departments.

He said, "I was in a public department regarding an issue with one of my official documents. As I was waiting for the paperwork to process along with many other people from different racial groups, a member of the Taliban was also there. That member of the Taliban started mocking me continuously for my ethical and religious beliefs with no hesitation. I used to listen and let people laugh at me, my ethnicity, and my belief because I and all the people knew that we are in no situation to speak out or defend our idea."

Another local shared his experience and story: "It was a weekend when my friends and I decided to go to a restaurant to sit, chat, and enjoy some quality time together. In the restaurants, we normally have a traditional dining spot, which is the size of two sofas and has the capacity of four people sitting around eating together. When we ordered our food and were waiting, a group of Taliban members entered the restaurant and sat in different places, including our spot next to us. Starting with shady and judgmental looks, till later asking us, why are you guys here? What do you do as a job, and where do you live? Therefore, we had to cancel our orders and make an excuse to leave the restaurant."

One of the locals who is working at one of the humanitarian organizations and is responsible for the training and capacity building of the Female Early Childhood Development teachers shares his story, saying, "I have been stopped in the street by one of the Taliban members interrogating about my job and accusing that you guys (trainer and the organization) are brainwashing and trying to change female's mindset against the religion and mislead them."

There have been a lot of other harassment cases among people which has never been written or talked about. The most common forms of harassment are sudden stopping of people in the streets and searching their pockets, checking mobile phones including private messages and private photos, objectifying the Western dressing styles for men and women, assaulting young boys in the streets who have a Western hairstyle, limiting women's long-distance travel, and banning women from picnic areas. These harassments have caused anxiety and depression among the young generation, who find it increasingly difficult to live in their society as before, as they are consistently objectified and insulted. They believe there is no longer a supportive environment for personal growth, leading many to seek opportunities to leave the country. One young adult from Kabul says, "They (Taliban) suppressed every aspect of my life; I no longer have freedom of speech, I cannot wear what I choose, cannot style my hair as I like, cannot listen to music, cannot watch movies, even cannot sit in a park comfortably without the fear of someone suddenly approaching, interrogating me, and checking my pockets."

The Taliban's rise to power has also had a profoundly negative impact on the economy of Afghanistan, worsening existing unemployment challenges. Many families struggle to meet their basic needs and access healthcare. To fulfill their needs, some are selling their household goods, while others are working for a lower wage or immigrating to other countries in search of better opportunities. Many individuals who were employed in the government entities are being dismissed and replaced by Taliban personnel. Even in private companies and organizations, when there is a vacancy, the Taliban government recommends a person for the position.

Afghanistan continues to endure severe hardships under Taliban rule, which has drastically changed people's lives and imposed enormous pressure on the economy. Afghans must deal with the unpleasant reality of diminished opportunities, reduced freedoms, and increasing challenges. Many have fled in search of a new beginning elsewhere due to the struggle for survival, while those who remain face an uncertain future. The current state of affairs clearly shows a nation in chaos and highlights the urgent need for international assistance to address these challenges.

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