Afghanistan

Description of Figure/Doll

Doll from Afghanistan wearing a blue burqa. The Afghan burqa (burka) is an outer garment designed to cover a woman’s body when she goes out in public in the Muslim culture. The full Afghan chadri has a small mesh area in the veil so the woman can see. The burqa in this photo is blue, with embroidery on the skull cap and veil. Blue is an important color in Islamic tradition, and is a frequently used color in mosques, such as the Blue Mosque in Herat. Women wear pajamis (tunic and trousers) under the burqa, then pull the sides of the burqa together for coverage

Link to higher resolution images at ClipPix

Location: Middle East

Capital: Kabul

Main language: Pashto, Dari

Currency: Afghani

Figure/Doll

Construction: cloth, silk

Height in Centimeters: 28

Height in Inches: 11

Afghanistan, a Country of Veils and Victims: Life for Girls and Women

Reading Level: 4.30

My name is Sohaila, and I live in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. Afghanistan is a country with millions of people. It is in the Middle East, near Iraq and Pakistan. Most of the people are Muslim and worship Allah.

When I was eleven years old (in2002), my mother nudged me and said, “Wake up! Today is a very special day.” I rubbed my eyes and wondered what could possibly be special about that day. Almost all of my days were spent in a house with black windows. For the past six years, the Taliban have been in control of Afghanistan. Under their laws, no one was allowed to play music, buy toys, or even go to movies!

Life in Afghanistan was especially difficult for women and girls. Every day I watched my brothers go to school. I cried because I could not go with them. I didn’t understand why it was okay for boys to learn, but not for girls. Staying home every day was boring. There was nothing to do, and the house was very hot.

I can’t tell you much about Kabul because we were not allowed to go out very often. When we did venture to the market, Mother had to wear a burqa, and I had to wear a scarf on my head. Under the Taliban, all women had to wear a burqa (veil) that covered their body from head to toe. There was a small net in front of their eyes so they could see out of the burqa. If a woman did not wear a burqa, someone might throw acid in her face, or she might be whipped by the Taliban.

“What is so special about today?” I asked my mother when she told me to wake up. “Every day is the same here—hot and boring!”

“Things are changing,” said Mother, “We have a new government, and girls can go to school now. Get dressed and I will walk with you to your school.”

I couldn’t believe my ears—it was a dream come true! I quickly got dressed and put a scarf on my head. My mother put on her burqa. She knew it was no longer the law, but after being forced to wear it for six years, she was afraid to go out without it.

My “school” was held in the house of a neighbor, Mrs. Ayubi. For the past six years, women had not been allowed to work, and Mrs. Ayubi was not allowed to teach. Now that a new government was in place, Mrs. Ayubi is able to teach again. All of the students at my school were girls. We didn’t have any computers or fancy tables. We shared pencils, and sometimes we used twigs or stones to learn mathematics. We didn’t have many books either, but we felt like we were rich! Finally, we could leave our houses, learn to read and write, and dream of a life with music and laughter!

It is now 2023, and I am 32 years old. I still live in Afghanistan, and I have a daughter who is 11 years old. Unfortunately, the Taliban has been in control again since 2021. Under their current rules, my daughter can only attend school for one more year. She will not be allowed to go to High School or a University. It makes me very, very sad.