I Am Waiting For Taliban To Kill Me And Others Like Me, Says Afghanistan's First Woman Mayor

The fate of women under the Taliban rule in Afghanistan has been one of the most talked-about topics in the past few days ever since it became clear that the militants are going to take over the country.

When they were in power between 1996-2001, the women lived a life of misery, forced to wear a burqa, not allowed to step out without a male guardian, not allowed to work, or even go to school.

But in the 20 years since the fall of the Islamic Emirates of Afghanistan, women had managed to regain at least some of the freedoms that they were once denied.

Women and girls started getting education again, started working and even took political offices.

Zarifa Ghafari/ Facebook

Zarifa Ghafari was one of the pioneers in Afghanistan and was the first woman in the conservative country to become a mayor.

In 2018, Ghafari created history by becoming the youngest, and first female, mayor in Afghanistan in Maidan Wardak province at the age of 26.

Zarifa Ghafari/ Facebook

Now after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Ghafari like other women who have managed to break the shackles, are concerned.

My dear homeland,
I know you are suffering and in pain ?
I know it is hard for you because strangers burn you and seek your destruction ?
But your real children who are looking to build you are very hard but with full courage trying to pull you out of these bad days ? pic.twitter.com/paQh0Nry4f

¡ª Zarifa Ghafari (@Zarifa_Ghafari) August 14, 2021

Ghafari said she was waiting for the Islamic militants to come and kill her.

¡°I¡¯m sitting here waiting for them to come. There is no one to help me or my family. I¡¯m just sitting with them and my husband. And they will come for people like me and kill me. I can¡¯t leave my family. And anyway, where would I go?¡± Ghafari told INews.

Zarifa Ghafari/ Facebook

This is not an isolated story. Despite the Taliban¡¯s chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid promising that the lives of women and opponents would be protected, many are worried.

Increasing threat for women

Women journalists are among those facing an increasing threat after the Taliban takeover.

Recently, an unnamed 22-year-old journalist who says she is on the run narrated her story to The Guardian.

AP

"Last week I was a news journalist. Today I can¡¯t write under my own name or say where I am from or where I am. My whole life has been obliterated in just a few days," she said.

According to her she had no choice, but to flee for her life, as the Taliban has basically taken over the entire province.

"Most of the women and girls I know have also fled the city and are trying to find somewhere safe. I cannot stop thinking and worrying about my friends, my neighbours, my classmates, all the women in Afghanistan," she said.