The irresponsible and costly conclusion of the longest-standing war in American history has left the global community grappling with its collective failure to foster stability in the MENA region. Another year of continued deterioration in Afghanistan confirms the decline of institutions and rise of autocracy. Far from just a regional trend, this growth is seen in the majority of recognised global states, solidifying its presence in this era of international politics. Afghanistan, once a priority of the international community, struggles among the plethora of global crises to regain the warrant for action. Yet, even as the nation descends deeper into dystopia, acts of resistance endure. In spite of their oppressors, women assert their agency in increasingly diverse forms: art, craftsmanship, the pursuit of knowledge, and even through the simple act of play as they carve out moments of freedom in a climate designed to erase them. Throughout this article, these subtle yet powerful acts of dissent are uncovered, revealing not only remarkable endurance but also urging us to listen closely as silenced voices turn to whispers and to use our freedom to fight for theirs, even when hope feels most dire. 

On Thin Ice

After backpedalling on faulty promises of a more flexible, modern vision aligned with universal norms in 2021, the Taliban government has since revealed its true trajectory through a series of strict crackdowns. Women are now barred from work and education beyond the primary level, leaving them almost entirely dependent on men and brewing socio-economic disaster for Afghanistan’s productivity, healthcare, and sustainability. Without female healthcare workers, access to medical attention for women and girls has all but vanished.

The Taliban’s latest draconian measure banned the sound of female voices in public. This unfathomable decision, harsh even for the Taliban’s standards, reveals their strategy to null the discourse on women’s rights appears as simple as putting them on mute.

The severity of this development was sufficient in re-sparking outrage amongst the international community. However, as the UN’s special representative for Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, echoes time and time again in conferences, a critical lack of global effort and actions condemns the women of Afghanistan to continue living a hellish reality—now in silence. 

Severe underfunding, food insecurity, and an immobilised workforce put Afghanistan on a path of catastrophe. Yet, with the regime's capacity for violence, fear of civil war, and a skittish international community, any sudden movements on this fragile playing field could trigger the repetition of wide-scale war. 

Despite the clear irrationality of imprisoning half the population, the Taliban have shown no intention of future integration or expansion of women's roles beyond domestic duties. A more comprehensive education program for women was drafted in 2022, but recent announcements cracking down on even the most basic liberties have rendered any progression distant and decaying. Women's participation in the public sector would undoubtedly boost economic productivity and, ironically, could even increase the stability and legitimacy of Taliban rule. Yet, the regime’s fear of mobilisation is greater than its interest in functionality. Even the smallest concession could ignite collective resistance—a risk they are unwilling to take. 

In their desperate attempts to snuff out this potential, they inadvertently fuel it, as each new restriction strengthens the resolve and creativity of those they seek to silence. 

Everyday acts of rebellion:

Captured over the course of six months, the  “AFGHANISTAN: NO WOMAN'S LAND” project produces a series of photographs revealing the reality of women’s lives in the many provinces of Afghanistan under the Taliban’s rule.

Kiana Hayeri and Mélissa Cornet, a photojournalist and human rights researcher, conducted the project in partnership with Amnesty International, hoping to ‘constitute a possible crime against humanity of gender-based persecution’. Having won the 14th Carmignac Photojournalism Award in 2024, this project stands as a testament to the bravery of on-the-ground risk-takers, bringing these urgent stories to global audiences. While the photographs are beautifully presented, their message demands to be seen as more than just art; it is a call to action.

A seemingly innocent scene of girls playing in the snow illustrates a joy that is no longer acceptable in modern-day Afghanistan. In the suburbs of Western Kabul and concealed by a snowstorm, girls sneak out into the snow to play, briefly able to forget that merely the sound of their laughter and excitement is punishable. In stolen moments, such as this, girls must live out their childhoods quickly, secretly, and cautiously. In these moments, young girls defy the silence that has been prescribed to them. 

When tyranny becomes normal and scenes like this become extraordinary, every moment of unguarded joy, every snowball thrown, becomes a quiet revolution. 

Obedient disobedience: 

“Susani Stories”

Within the sanctuary of private spaces, families continue to sing and dance—small but powerful acts of perseverance. While public expression is prohibited, women have found other ways to make their voices heard, embedding their thoughts and experiences into traditional, unassuming “women's activities” like embroidery and needlework. In the delicate threads of Susani—a traditional textile art rich in symbolism—flowers, hands, or lips are carefully sewn, each stitch quietly telling a story for those who look closely enough.

In Melbourne, Australia, the Social Studio exhibits Susani Stories, a stunning collection of embroidery made by Afghan emigrants for women and girls back home. This century-old craft, known for its intricate patterns and cultural significance, acts as a covert medium for storytelling where words are prohibited.

While some find the traditional embroidery to be a reminder of the suppressive and prescribed duties, other women have seen the embroidery as a means of preserving their heritage and regaining their autonomy to create. Tahera Rashedi, a bi-cultural worker, recalls her mother’s love for embroidery and, through it, extended strength. 

The threads intricately placed and pulled are the manifestation of the mind and “a way they can picture their futures.” The Susani displays remarkable resilience and hope, persisting regardless of how few liberties or resources are given. 

The streets of Kabul: 

Traces of an Artistic Rebellion

Words may have been banned, but images are just as capable of communication. 

Art has always been a medium for humans to express meaning in a way that exceeds the boundaries of language. Thus, in times of conflict and despair, art holds together communities. This solidarity is especially powerful in Afghanistan, where Shamsia Hassani, the country's first female graffiti artist, boldly brings her art to the streets of Kabul, transforming public spaces into canvases that demand a visual comment. The murals scattered about the city are not only an act of rebellion in their creation itself but also serve as a critical and accessible symbol, attractive especially to children and girls. Her work, both in stylistic choice and out of necessity, is bold and simplistic in nature, done quickly to avoid attracting the wrong attention, and left for as many people to witness before their inevitable removal. 

For the short time the graffitis remain visible, they spark questions and reactions, creating ripples in the minds of onlookers. Her “Dreaming Graffiti” series showcases the potential of her ideas on an unlimited scale, creating digital murals on photographs of public sites, unrestricted by the time-restraints and danger of the physical process. 

Despite exhaustive and extensive efforts to control the activities of citizens, it seems the Taliban can do little to cage freethinkers. Shamsia, despite having her safety at huge risk, continues her mission abroad amongst various Afghan artists and activists to keep the embers burning, no matter how dim.

Does Afghanistan really need saving?

Afghanistan’s dire state calls for urgent action, but history has shown that foreign intervention may neither be effective nor welcomed.

Western narratives, especially during the 'War on Terror,' have often framed Muslim women as victims of their own culture in need of Western liberation. This reductionist portrayal excludes Afghan women from shaping their own futures and fuels ideological deadlock in addressing the region’s instability. After the chaotic U.S. withdrawal further eroded trust, local resistance to foreign involvement is widely felt amongst many post-intervention communities, diminishing prospects for any form of retrial.

For the future to see meaningful change, it must be driven from within yet bolstered externally. Local NGOs are better positioned to provide the support Afghanistan both wants and needs, but they face chronic underfunding and a lack of institutional capacity to fully leverage their resources. The Taliban, themselves, requesting international economic support displays the extent of the country's chronic dependency. Thus, for Afghanistan to see lasting improvement, an approach of sustained international pressure is necessary to restrain their tyrannical leaders, paired with the expansion of globally backed institutions. 

While the West strives towards equal representation and gender inclusivity at a systematic level, the Taliban’s finalises total elimination of women from the public sphere—a sobering contrast. Outrage and desperation amongst external activists continues to fight for decisive intervention, but a plan is yet to be crafted. A claim is yet to be taken as severe enough to provoke reactions beyond verbal condemnation and condolences. These draconian and dystopian conditions women endure mean that activities we may take for granted as mundane or ordinary are, for them, acts of immense courage and resistance. From sewing to singing to simply playing in the snow, these subtle and stolen moments of defiance shine a light on their unyielding spirit and fuel the dwindling global attention to improving the situation in Afghanistan. Perhaps in the near future, and upon each drastic step taken by the Taliban, the simmering anger and frustration within Afghanistan will push outrage to action. The international community must remain active advocates from the outside, listening carefully to the voices of Afghans within, especially when their messages can no longer be spoken aloud.