BAHARAN LEHIB

Kabul- Since the Taliban’s takeover on August 15, 2021, Afghan women have been confined to home; they have been deprived of their right to education, banned from working in most sectors outside the home, public spaces, parks and gyms. Despite all the restrictions, Afghan women keep resisting; they have opened “secret schools” at their home. Now, the resisting women of Afghanistan have begun to create employment for women.

Selma Rahiyaft is one of Afghan women, who have started a small business to create employment for unemployed women. She opened a café-restaurant in a corner of Kabul and employed 10 women. Having a peaceful and beautiful atmosphere, the café-restaurant also has a library.

‘I wanted to do something for women who lost their jobs’

“Although I had little money, I wanted to do something for women who lost their jobs. I decided to open this café-restaurant to create a space for women to breathe. The Taliban allowed me to open this café-restaurant in Kabul because they collect taxes from us every month. Although we pay high taxes, the Taliban always watch us. Every day, the members of the Taliban visit the restaurant and try to humiliate us and our customers. Despite everything, we, as women, are determined to keep working.”

A space for women

There is a space in the café-restaurant just for women. Speaking about this space, Selma Rahiyaht said, “It is a space for women not only for eating something but also for coming together freely with their friends. Women come here to meet their friends, read books and find a space to breathe.”