As they crossed the border back into Afghanistan, the weight of their lost hopes and dreams became crystal clear for three Afghan sisters recently deported from Iran. Recent mass deportations have disillusioned many Afghans, particularly women and girls, who were once pursuing work and education in a more progressive environment.
Marwa, 18, reflected on their new reality, contemplating the necessity of donning headscarves and traditional attire. "Afghanistan is like a cage for women, and we’re coming back to that cage," lamented Khurshid, the youngest sister at only 17 and a budding painter. Their situation underscores the plight of over 1.4 million Afghans who have been expelled from Iran this year alone.
The sisters' plight echoes a broader trend, as neighboring Pakistan has also initiated similar deportations, further endangering the lives and aspirations of Afghan women who fled their homeland following the Taliban's return to power in 2021. In Afghanistan, they face stringent laws that bar girls from school beyond sixth grade, restrict women's employment opportunities, and limit their movement outside of the home without a male relative.
The harsh transition from relative freedoms in Iran to the oppressive environment in their homeland has unnerved many deported Afghans, who must now navigate a future that looks increasingly bleak. As Khurshid defied Taliban attire regulations at the border crossing, she and her sisters could only brace themselves for the stark changes ahead.
