Afghan Sisters’ Struggle: From Iran’s Schools to Taliban-Era Afghanistan

On 15 August 2021, the Taliban entered Kabul, prompting a new wave of displacement. By the end of the previous year, an estimated 1.4 million undocumented Afghans lived in Iran, alongside roughly 3 million with visas, residency permits or recognized refugee status. Mass deportations from Iran and Pakistan over the past year forced more than 1 million people back under Taliban rule, including about 400 000 Afghans deported from Iran since the start of the year.

The Guardian

Iran had relaxed its policy toward Afghan refugees, issuing an edict that allowed undocumented Afghan children to attend school through the end of high school. The edict enabled the three sisters—Shallah, Fatimah and Maahi—to enroll, but it imposed an age ceiling of 20 years. By the time Maahi reached 21, she was barred from continuing and had to enter the workforce while her younger sisters remained in school. Fatimah, then 14 and in grade 8, was told in 2025 that only Iranian or documented Afghan students could register for the new semester, ending the edict’s protection.

The Guardian

In May, the sisters’ father was detained at work; when their mother and Maahi sought him at the police station, they were also arrested, and the entire family was subsequently deported to Afghanistan. Back in Herat, near the Iranian border, the sisters now rely on private tutoring that costs 2 500 afghani (£28) per month—fees they cover with their savings, though the classes cannot award diplomas.

The Guardian

Since their return, the sisters have faced the Taliban’s sweeping bans on women’s public life: schools, universities, most jobs and even parks are off-limits. They remain largely confined to their home, fearing the “morality police” and dress-code crackdowns that have already led to lethal force against protestors in Herat. Despite these constraints, the girls continue unofficial studies, hoping for a future where education becomes possible again.

The Guardian

• “I am one to make my future by chasing opportunities.” — Shallah

The Guardian