The international community must make it clear that it will not normalize relations with the Taliban until the regime ends its war on women, and predominantly Muslim countries could play a critical role. Notably, Qatar – which has long acted as a mediator between the Taliban and the West – has condemned the Taliban’s policies, as has Saudi Arabia. The United Arab Emirates has gone further, denouncing Afghanistan’s ban on girls’ education as a violation of “the teachings of Islam” that “must be swiftly reversed.”

The goal of this book ban is to minimize written content that citizens could be exposed to and potentially embed in their beliefs that contradict the teachings of the Taliban. While the prohibition of literature may seem like a small limitation in comparison to the others that exist in this country, it has severe consequences on how people survive under these conditions.

The plight of women: No treatment by men and no female midwives.

No midwives, no treatments, no health care at all.

That is the future Afghan women are facing.

As the year comes to a close, we invite you to help ensure that no woman ready to take a bold step forward is turned away. Your generosity will enable us to expand Threads of Hope, open more learning spaces, and provide the essential resources these women need to succeed.

It's official! We are a finalist in the 2024 #ORGImpactAwards Quality Education for All award! Please share and cheer for us as Public Interest Registry announces the winners on October 8th at orgimpactawards.org.

For the 3rd time since the Taliban takeover, in 2021, women in Afghanistan are barred from taking college entrance exams. There have been no new women trained as doctors, lawyers, or office managers in Afghanistan. Best-selling author, Nadia Hashimi joins Shogofa Amini of Sahar Education to discuss the toll this continued gender apartheid is taking on Afghan women.