As part of the largest U.S. airlift in history, Maryam Khademi came face-to-face with the Taliban on August 28, 2021. The scene at Kabul’s airport was chaotic with thousands fleeing the traumatic violence.
“They had guns on their shoulders pointed towards us,” said Khademi, now a Brown University student.
When she got closer to the Taliban-controlled gate, “We saw people handcuffed and their eyes were blinded by fabric. They were kneeling on the ground. They were common people that tried to get into the gate and for some reason failed.”
“I might die here, but I’ve got to risk it,” she thought.
More than 76,000 Afghans evacuated to the U.S. in 2021. As a single woman, living alone and working in the capital, she was a target.
Studying remotely from Kabul with the Asian University for Women (AUW) in Bangladesh, a liberal arts school with institutional supporters like Hillary Clinton among other notables, Khademi hoped to return to school. But was desperate to relocate anywhere.
AUW informed her that a flight was to leave within hours. Pack only your documents, she was told. After two failed attempts, school leaders arranged for her safe passage along with nearly 150 other women.
“It didn’t matter where I went, as long as I got out of Afghanistan.”
After a harrowing wait at security checkpoints, the Taliban allowed her to pass. “Now go to your Arbab,” she heard, translated to “Go to your Western masters.”
Only after reaching the airport’s U.S. military zone, could she finally exhale. Lifting her headscarf and loosening her long dress, she was finally free.
Believing the plane was headed to Bangladesh, Khademi boarded unaware of the difficult journey ahead. She stayed at U.S. military bases in Saudi Arabia then Spain and at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin where she joined 13,000 other Afghan evacuees. Her final destination was Providence.
Through the New University in Exile Consortium, a group of nearly 60 universities from around the world that hosts uprooted scholars, Brown University accepted a cohort of students, nearly all from AUW.
Navigating a New Life
Khademi and 14 other displaced Afghan students now study at Brown University. According to a new report by Brown University’s Watson Institute and the Refugee Dream Center, more than 300 Afghan refugees reside in Rhode Island.
The Taliban has banned girls above grade 6 from school, and women from attending university. She has since become an advocate for equal access to education.
Growing up primarily during the U.S. occupation, starting in 2001, Khademi has no memory of living under strict rule. Free to work, travel alone – interact with male friends – and most especially attend school, she had basic human rights.
With the reversal of power, it’s undone two decades of progress.
“Our generation lived a better life than our parents. My parents and grandparents were always on the move for economic reasons and because the Taliban forced them to flee,” she said.
In Afghanistan now, “All of my friends are at home. They used to work. The only thing they can do is go outside but they have to have a male companion to escort them.”
“Despite the challenges they are having economically, not going to school, and mental health issues, women are still fighting alone,” said Khademi.
She’s grateful to Brown University.
“They not only helped me with getting an education but with navigating a life here.”
She refuses to waste the opportunity. For the sake of her future, and those women left behind.
Brown students aid Afghan girls banned from school by the Taliban
Another Brown University student, Khadija Nazari, also came to the U.S. after the 2021 Taliban takeover. After arriving, she founded an organization called BaleParvaaz.
The organization includes students, educators, and advocates hailing from different parts of the globe, who provide mentorship and scholarships for Afghan girls.
“When I learned more than 55 students were killed and injured, including my cousin,” at the Educational Center in Dashte Barchi, “It was hard, but after that, we became more dedicated to helping students in Afghanistan in any way possible,” said Nazari.
Several students from Brown University virtually advise girls in Afghanistan, assisting with their English language skills and scholarship applications.
Nazari’s first fundraiser among friends totaled $1800. Funds go towards learning in Afghanistan, even if it means underground.
“Underground classes and mentorship are a dire need because of restrictions on girls’ education in Afghanistan at the moment,” said BaleParvaaz board member and Brown University Professor of Islamic Humanities, Dr. Shahzad Bashir.
He added, “One can hope that the situation will change at some point but, in the meantime, children need education at their current ages and they cannot wait for the political situation to get better.”
Despite the high risk, over 100 female students take secret classes in Afghanistan through BaleParvaaz.
The concept of underground schools is not new in Afghanistan. It filled the learning gap in the 90s when the Taliban first had control. Objection to girls’ education is founded on a belief in traditional gender roles and plans for a strict Islamic society.
Over the last 20 years, school enrollment rose for both boys and girls. Now education for girls has been replaced in favor of madrasas, or religious teachings. Nearly 80% of school-aged girls and women are not in any formal instruction.
According to UN experts, Afghanistan is the only country that forbids education beyond primary school for women and girls.
Inside a Secret School for Afghan Girls
Three female BaleParvaaz students share their stories with The Public’s Radio. Sitting in an undisclosed location in Kabul, they speak about the ban. Their names have been changed for security reasons. The name of a male teacher was also changed.
Carrying books concealed in their school bags, they cautiously travel to a hidden location for English and computer literacy classes. Wearing head-to-toe clothing, the teenagers are dressed in long skirts, hijabs to cover their hair, and face masks.
They speak out to raise awareness among the international community.
“I see boys in school. They are happy because they know they have a future. They know they have some plans, and they know if they try, they can get an education,” said Samira, a 12th grader.
Hadiya, also in 12th grade, explains secret classes are only a temporary fix.
“In the past, we could go to school, and it was clear, we would graduate and get our transcript and after that get a scholarship and go to foreign countries to continue our education.”
Now all that is in jeopardy.
Reflecting on the past, Fariba, a university student said: “We were free and freedom is the best thing in the world. Living with freedom is very beautiful. Living in a society where others control your every action and life is so painful.”
“If Afghan girls become educated, the future generation will be educated,” said Aarash, a BaleParvaaz teacher. “We will reconstruct our country.”
“But if we continue this policy, we will be silent about the restrictions Taliban made, we will lose our future because girls are our future.”
On The Weekly Catch Friday afternoon at 4:30 and 6:30, we’ll have a special interview with Khadija Nazari about the work she’s doing at Brown University to help girls back in Afghanistan.
Alli-Michelle Conti, freelance reporter
Alli-Michelle Conti, a multimedia freelance journalist with 20 years of experience covering community-driven news in Rhode Island, writes on social justice issues with a focus on immigration. Her work has appeared on PBS Newshour, Rhode Island PBS, The Boston Globe, The Providence Journal and more.
