Since the Taliban Regained Power in Afghanistan, a 27-Year-old Lawyer From Herat Has Been Keeping a Diary

It is a testament to an exhausting resistance against the disappearance of women, a story of courage and dignity. The woman, whose identity is not disclosed in the rule. Her diary entries capture the gradual erasure of women from public life in Afghanistan, a process she describes as relentless and demoralizing.

In one entry, she reflects on the loss of everything she fought for: Everything I fought for is being torn from my hands right now. The quote underscores the despair felt by many Afghan women as their rights and freedoms are systematically stripped away. The diary serves as a personal record of defiance, preserving the memory of what was lost and bearing witness to the ongoing struggle.

Her words highlight both the resilience and the profound grief of women living under the Taliban's restrictions. Herat, a city in western Afghanistan, has been under Taliban control since August 2021. The lawyer's account offers a rare, intimate perspective on the human cost of the regime's policies, which have barred women from most public roles and education beyond primary school.