The Afghan women risking their lives to take on the Taliban

The group recently spoke to a Taliban representative via the social audio app Clubhouse, asking them two questions: do you believe in elections and do you believe in women’s right to work?

“They said we don’t believe in elections or democracy and we can only allow women to work when it’s necessary - their example was doctors,” Ms Yari, 33, says from her office in Kabul.

“It was the first time the Taliban came forward using a very modern tool to talk to people. Everybody told them 'you can’t just go in the streets and kill people, you can’t stop girls from going to schools.'” 

It’s a fight that is particularly personal for Ms Yari.

Escaping forced marriage 

At just six years old, Ms Yari was forcibly engaged to a pro-Taliban commander’s son of the same age. She was due to marry him when she turned 18.

“It was two months before my marriage ceremony, everything was decided, and my mum kind of surrendered, saying ‘I cannot save you, you just have to go,’” she says. 

“I knew if I went to his house I wouldn’t be allowed to continue my education. I received my visa - my fiancé and this warlord didn’t know anything about it - and I fled the country. I went to the United States."

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