Daud Khattak Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty August 15, 2026 A lack of rights, falling wages, deteriorating living conditions: Five years of Taliban rule have brought changes to Afghanistan, but not the ones many Afghans hoped for. Though roadside bombs and violent clashes between warring factions have largely subsided, the country faces a profound economic crisis,
By Safiullah Stanikzai Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty August 12, 2026 When Kubra went into labor, the 22-year-old was already suffering from anemia and malnutrition. She experienced severe blood loss during childbirth. Doctors tried to save her with a blood transfusion, but she fell into a coma and died. Her baby did not survive either. “Her husband
Amu: Human Rights Watch said Afghanistan has descended into one of the world’s gravest human rights crises during nearly five years of Taliban rule, citing systematic repression of women and girls, attacks on media freedom, arbitrary detentions and a worsening humanitarian emergency. The organization said women and girls have borne the brunt of the Taliban’s
Amu: Women and girls in the northern province of Balkh say years of Taliban restrictions on education and employment have left many struggling with depression, anxiety and other mental health problems, as psychologists report a growing demand for counseling services. Nearly five years after the Taliban returned to power, women remain barred from secondary schools,
The Guardian (UK): Child marriage is not new to south Asia. But while the practice across the region has been declining, the Taliban takeover reversed that trend in Afghanistan. Shabnam*, a midwife, says: “Since the new government came to power, the number of child mothers has increased dramatically. In the past, perhaps only two child
Afghanistan International: The Taliban on Friday, July 10, again detained several women on Herat for allegedly failing to comply with the group’s dress code. Sources said two Taliban morality police patrol vehicles took several women to an undisclosed location. Sources told Afghanistan International that at least two patrol vehicles belonging to the Taliban’s Ministry for
Afghanistan International: The UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan has urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to recognise and support Afghanistan’s women’s cricket team. He warned that the players remain in exile and their funding is due to end in August. Click here to read more (external link). Other Cricket News Shapoor Zadran’s
Afghanistan International: After years of displacement and fleeing Taliban threats, Afghanistan’s refugee women’s cricket team travelled to Britain and, following a meeting with King Charles III, finally took to the field in Cambridge to show the world that the dreams of Afghan women remain alive. Click here to read more (external link). Other Cricket News
By Farangis Najibullah and Firuza Azizi Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty June 24, 2026 Fear has gripped Afghanistan’s third city as the Taliban government violently enforces a stricter dress code for women. Members of the Taliban’s notorious morality police have arrested and even publicly beaten women in the western city of Herat accused of violating a
The Guardian (UK): It explicitly allows children to be given in marriage at any age. It also forces women whose husbands are missing to wait until they are presumed dead before they can be separated. Part of the code that addresses abusive or neglectful husbands allows a wife to petition the court if her husband