One Year Since the Rule of the Taliban
This piece was written by Rahil (pseudonym) who lives in Afghanistan in Persian and has been translated to English by us. You can find the Persian version here.
Today, Sunday August 15 2022, in a world of despair and hopelessness, I wake up and stare outside the window of my room. The only thing that I notice are people walking around with long, unkempt black hair and messy and disheveled clothes – the Talibs.
There are white flags raised on the roads and alleys of the city, as well as on rangers occupied by 4 people sitting in the front and more than 8 people hanging from its body and doors. They are carrying all kinds of weapons and patrolling the streets of Kabul with their white flags. They are playing loud unintelligible music, showing off their might and power, while my eyes linger elsewhere.
An orphan child who lost his father in the 20 year war, is washing car tires in the corner of the street near a water stream. His only concern is to ensure that his mother and sister have a bite of food available on their dinner table this evening.
My eyes are drawn to two women wearing chadari, with two sacks spread in front of them, sitting on the other corner of the road. I close the window of my room, wear my face mask, and leave the house to ask them what they are selling.
I approach them, and after saying hello, ask: “What is it that you have brought and are selling here?”
One of them responds from under her chadari, with pain in her voice: “These are wild greens from the valleys and mountains of Istalif and Shamali. They are used for healing many diseases. We have picked them and brought them here to sell, as we have no other means of finding food and sustaining our children and ourselves.”
Even though I had never heard of these wild plants, I bought a few to help these women and support them.
15-08-2022
Rahil
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