Nasima Mirzada

For 24 years I worked to uphold women’s rights in the northern part of Afghanistan. When the Taliban ruled for the first time over the country, I secretly taught reading and writing to women in my home town of Balkh near the border to Turkmenistan.

After the Taliban were toppled in 2001, I worked as a project coordinator and social worker for international organisations. In 2012 I started work at Medica Afghanistan.  

As a mediator, I supported more than 1,000 families, dealt with more than 600 cases of sexualised violence, and helped 400 women to obtain their Tazkira – the Afghan identity document. For me, it was always about understanding what the women needed in order to live a self-determined life. Sometimes this was financial credit to open a sewing workshop, sometimes it was a well in their village to save them walking hours to fetch water. I also worked with women’s committees that raised their needs on the political agenda of communities. And I talked with families whose daughter, mother or aunt had been imprisoned.  

Wherever I was, I educated women and girls about their rights: You are allowed to earn your own income. You have the right to study. You are entitled to an inheritance.

It gave me great strength to see them begin to assert these rights. The men would often react: “Ah, you’ve been to Medica again.”  

A large part of my work in recent years consisted of helping women in prisons. These included young women who had been accused of having extra-marital sexual intercourse.   

On paper, the same laws actually applied to both men and women. But in reality, it was often the case that the men involved were not even charged. Or they bought their freedom. Girls, on the other hand, would not only get a harsh sentence, but they would also be forced to take so-called ‘virginity tests’. Many years we fought to stop this misogynistic procedure, for which there is no scientific justification at all.  

I accompanied many young women to these forced gynaecological examinations. They are terribly degrading. As years went by, we did achieve some minor improvements for the accused, such as some more consideration and a little more respect from the doctors.  

The work was never easy. Time and again we would receive threatening phone calls from men who had been convicted because of our work – or simply because they disagreed with our activities to uphold women’s rights. Sometimes I sat at my desk shaking with fear. My husband died early. For many years I was solely responsible for our six children. For our income, for our safety. Why did I continue in spite of this? Because I think we simply have to put up resistance against injustices, even if the challenges are significant. 

The situation was already difficult then. So what must it be like for the women in Afghanistan today?  

In the summer of 2021, as the Taliban took over more and more regions, I fled to Kabul with my two youngest daughters. Three months later we were able to escape to Germany via Islamabad. Two other daughters were already living abroad. But I had to leave one daughter and my son in Afghanistan. Both of them are married. So the provisions set by the German government at that time did not permit them to be evacuated as well. This hurts a lot. Sometimes my grandchildren in Afghanistan ask: “Grandma, when are you coming to visit?” And I cannot answer them.  

At some point, I hope, my country will be free again. Then I will return. To my family, to my work.

Until then, I try to continue in Germany. I have undertaken postgraduate studies in Social Work at the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. As soon as my German is good enough, I would like to work as a mediator again.  

My daughters have learned German very quickly. The oldest one is soon going to begin training to be a dental assistant. The younger one is applying for a training place in the municipal administration.  

Together we volunteer as ‘integration guides’. We accompany refugees to doctor’s appointments, inform them about the law – and how to separate their recycling! Recently, the local municipal administration contacted me regarding a woman who had experienced violence at home. So I did what I have done so often: I listened to her, accompanied her to appointments, and informed her of the assistance available. 

For this woman and all others my wish goes out: Do not allow anyone to stand in your way. Live your life – proud and strong.