Summary
A young Afghan woman named Alia fled her village to Kabul to avoid a forced marriage and to continue learning English. Since the Taliban banned girls over 12 from attending school five years ago, many girls like Alia face limited options, mainly marriage, as formal education and work opportunities have been largely shut down.Key Facts
- Alia traveled alone by taxi with her cousin to Kabul, which is risky under Taliban rules forbidding women to travel long distances without a male escort.
- The Taliban have banned girls older than 12 from attending school for nearly five years.
- Private short-term courses like English classes and religious schools (madrasas) are the only education options available for teenage girls.
- Alia’s family supports her education but believes marriage is now the best option since schools and universities are closed.
- Many Afghan families cannot afford private education, and three in four people in Afghanistan struggle to meet basic needs.
- Another young woman, Shama, was forced to marry at 18 and had to give up her dream of becoming a doctor.
- The article changes names to protect identities due to safety concerns under Taliban rule.
- The Taliban's enforcement of these rules severely limits girls' education and personal freedom, increasing early and forced marriages.
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