No more evening walks. No more jobs at the supermarket. No more hopes for school.
Three Afghan sisters returned to Afghanistan after being deported from Iran last week, facing the grim reality of their lost freedoms. Marwa, 18, emphasized the need to acquire head scarves and outfits to comply with local customs, while Khurshid, 17, described Afghanistan as "a cage for women" as they returned to restrictive conditions.
This mass deportation of over 1.4 million Afghans from Iran has severely impacted the lives of women and girls who had been working and studying there. A similar policy has been enacted by neighboring Pakistan, further endangering the lives of Afghan women who fled following the Taliban's takeover in 2021.
The current Afghan government imposes some of the harshest restrictions on women and girls, prohibiting education for girls beyond sixth grade, barring women from most jobs, and restricting their movement in public spaces without male accompaniment.
Recent reports indicate a rising number of single women, female-headed households, and unaccompanied minors being deported from Iran. Among them are 15-year-old girls separated from their parents and women traveling alone while their husbands remain in Iran. Many face challenges discussing the violence and abuse they endured while in Iran.
Sunita, a humanitarian worker, highlighted the high demand for support related to gender-based violence and mental health, lamenting the limited resources available to address these needs.
Upon their return, social workers are attempting to prepare women and girls, especially those who lived in Iran, for the restrictions they will face in Afghanistan. Khurshid, arriving in torn denim overalls, expressed her reluctance to conform to Taliban dress codes, asserting her personal style.
Within the relocation facility, which processes over 20,000 returning Afghans daily, some women defied Taliban restrictions, engaging in activities like polishing their nails. Aid workers are tasked with informing returnees about the challenges ahead while emphasizing the need for emergency assistance and family reunifications.
Despite the challenges, some women expressed relief at being back in Afghanistan after experiencing xenophobia in Iran. Instances of discrimination were reported, such as pharmacies refusing to sell baby formula and hospitals denying treatment based on the patients' nationality.
Job opportunities for women returning from Iran are dismal, with only seven percent of Afghan women employed outside their homes, according to the United Nations Development Program. Shabnam Ashrafi, who worked in agriculture in Iran, voiced concerns about her family's financial stability following her return, as her income had been crucial for their household.
As her daughter Shamila, who had just completed sixth grade, stood silently, Ashrafi reflected on the sacrifices made for her children's education, questioning the value of those efforts in light of the current circumstances.