Taliban banned women from playing sports after it took control of Afghanistan. Many female athletes left the country while some decided to stay in their country. Environmentalist, women's rights advocate and football player Om El Benin Baturi is one of them.  She calls for support to keep playing football in her country.

BIHARAN LEHIB

Kabul– Taliban first attack women after taking the control of Afghanistan. I can say that all hopes for Afghan women have fallen into disrepair after years they struggled to have their rights. While many Afghans, particularly artists, journalists, athletes left the country, many people flocked to the airport to escape the Taliban. But some decided to stay in their country despite the Taliban.

Call on international community for support

Om El Benin Baturi, an environmentalist, women's rights advocate and football player, is one of the Afghans, who decided to stay. “We cannot play football anymore after the Taliban takeover. We are sad and worried. But I will keep playing football and find a way to exercise. The Taliban should understand that sports don’t harm women. Many Afghan women dedicate their lives to sports; they worked years to be professionals. Women shouldn’t be ignored in sports,” Om El Benin Baturi says.

“I don’t want to leave my country”

Om El Benin Baturi has many medals, “I worked years to win them, how can I give up?” she asks, adding, “Now, the Taliban want to stop us but I cannot stop playing football. Please support Afghan female athletes. I want to keep playing football; I don’t want to leave my country. I want to live in my country as I want.”

73 female athletes take refuge in Pakistan

73 female athletes, including Khalida Popal, left Afghanistan along with their families and took refuge in Pakistan after the Taliban banned women from playing sports. The athletes shared their photographs they took while escaping from Afghanistan on their social media accounts.

Nilofar Boyat attacked while fleeing from Afghanistan

Nilofar Boyat, the captain of the Afghanistan Women's National Wheelchair Basketball Team, left Afghanistan with her family after the Taliban takeover. She was attacked while fleeing from the country. She took refuge in Spain with her family. In her interviews, she underlines that she had to leave her country.

Those who stay in Afghanistan…

As we mentioned above, many female athletes stay in Afghanistan. Some of them want to stay because they love their country. Women always take strength from women’s solidarity no matter where they are. Afghan women now need solidarity to keep struggling for their rights in their country.