Kabul - Women make up an essential part of Afghan society which is deeply affected by the ruling patriarchal mentality. They have been struggling with patriarchal laws, discrimination, violence, war, poverty, and insecurity for years. Women who manage to study do not earn their degrees easily, they go through lots of difficulties and make lots of sacrifices in order to be able to achieve their basic rights in an unequal society.

Sahar Ayubi is one of the women who managed to complete her education. Not only did she fight the unequal society, but she also had to stand against her family. Sahar says: "Going to school was so hard for me because my family did not allow me. I had to convince them before I went to school."

Sahar continues: "I faced many problems. I had to work hard on the family farms, even when I was a seven or eight-year-old child. I hardly continued my education at the same time because my family usually prevented me from going to school. Even our society didn’t approve of my education. They believed that It was a shame for a girl to study. According to them, a woman should stay at home. Our corrupt culture doesn't allow girls to study, giving no space to girls in society, no equal human rights to girls."

She adds: "I studied until eight grades in the village where I was born, I continued studying when we moved to the city. I continued my education life until twelfth grade in the city. I took the university entrance exam after facing many difficulties. I managed to pass the exam and enter university; however, I faced more obstacles. My family did not allow me to go to  university. I had to convince my family again by fighting them!"

Sahar continues: "I always say an Afghan woman must first start struggling in her own family, then she can continue her struggle in her society. Struggling every sphere of life brings success with it. We should support each other to overcome difficulties caused by our corrupt culture."

Sahar always defends gender equality and she is interested in politics. She suffers from gender inequality and tries to play her part in the fight for equal rights by joining the protests against the Taliban.

In Afghanistan, women also suffer from poverty women along with gender inequality and discrimination.

Speaking about the closing of the university for women, Sahar says: “I haven't completed my university education yet, I'm still studying. On the day when the university was closed for women, I was disappointed and depressed, but again I said to myself that you can't move forward with disappointment and depression. I went out to the streets the next day, as a woman who wasn’t allowed to study and faced bans, and I raised my voice to get my rights. I hope schools and universities will be open for women and girls again. Studying is our human and Islamic right."

 “My message to Afghan and Iranian women is to fight as much as they can to earn their rights. Rights are not given; they are earned! You have to fight for your rights. Be aware of what is happening in the current world. As much as a man can dominate the whole world, so can we women. We should improve ourselves and fight for our rights!”