November 3: This day marks the fourth anniversary of the founding of the Afghanistan Women’s Movement for Equality, a movement that rose from the depths of darkness, repression, and absolute poverty. We entered a struggle that, by every rational measure, seemed destined for defeat. Yet with every setback, we grew stronger and more resolute.
In the shadow of a city suffocating under Taliban boots, specifically in Kabul’s Dasht-e-Barchi district, the movement was born. Its founders were young men and women from a war-scarred generation who came together with shared dreams of equality and justice, united by an unyielding will. What began as a small gathering soon transformed into the Afghanistan Women’s Movement for Equality: an unarmed yet powerful front, the voice of silenced women, and the embodiment of their hope for a just life.
The long-awaited day had arrived. The spirit of defiance was awakening in the hearts of brave women determined to stand against the machinery of oppression. The conviction to fight the tyrants of the age was growing deeper and more defined. Decisions were made; determination solidified. The passage from barbarity, monopoly, and deprivation toward freedom and justice was manifest in every member and founder of the movement. Each of us had already risked everything.
A day before the inauguration, we began contacting local media and guests to invite them to the event, which was scheduled to take place at the Ziafat Restaurant in the Mazari Center market. Despite the anxiety of the night before and our mental preparation for any potential threat or arrest, we refused to give in.
On the morning of the inauguration, the restaurant said, “Without permission from the local police station, the event cannot be held.” Efforts to persuade the restaurant owner failed. I had no choice but to reach out to a former military acquaintance for mediation. Eventually, accompanied by a colleague, I went to Police District 18. Entering the commander’s office was difficult, but despite the insistence on wearing a full veil and mask, I managed to submit a request for a “cultural program,” carefully avoiding the word movement, knowing that uttering it would mean instant cancellation.
With the guests and journalists present, the event finally began. But only a few minutes had passed before Taliban forces stormed into the hall, faces tense, robes flowing, eyes filled with anger. They expelled the reporters and tried to shut down the event.
We stood our ground. The program continued, and images and videos of our defiance were sent across the world. Moments later, the blow came. One of them asked, “Are you Zarifa Yaqubi, the founder of the movement?”
“Yes,” I replied. They immediately handcuffed me and dragged me outside. I, along with three male members of the movement, was arrested. For forty-one days, we endured imprisonment, torture, and death threats. Several male guests were also detained and beaten. Our journey began that day, with pain, courage, and an unshakable belief that even in chains, resistance is freedom.
The heavy blow, the terror of forty-one days in detention, torture, and escape, left other members of the movement stunned. One by one, many were forced to flee the country to save their lives, seeking refuge in neighboring states. Some continue to live in hiding out of fear, while others have managed to obtain asylum abroad.
Despite all these hardships, and although the inauguration of the movement was never completed, its work never ceased. Our small yet determined front, armed only with courage and conviction, shook the Taliban to their core, earning a place for our name on their blacklist.
Today, the name Afghan Women’s Movement for Equality echoes beyond the borders of Afghanistan. It represents the voice of the voiceless, the voice of women from Kabul, Kandahar, Helmand, and across the country who, even during the years of the Republic, were unaware of their rights but now stand courageously against the Taliban’s oppression.
Four years of struggle have proven one undeniable truth: no repression, threat, imprisonment, or exile can silence the will of women who rise for justice and equality. This is the story of an unfinished inauguration, but in truth, it stands as a testament to the courage and resilience of Afghan women, and a clear message to the world: a movement driven by hope and determination can never be defeated.
Message from the Afghan Women’s Movement for Equality to the women of Afghanistan:
You are not alone; we are your voice.
