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A collection of 28 posts

Education, an Afghan Conundrum

Access to Education

Education, an Afghan Conundrum

They were told school is not for them, that it’s bad for a girl to seek education, and were made to sit at home at a young age. Now, these Afghan women above 40 years in age share accounts of their crushed hopes.

Hopeless Brides and Refugee Grooms

Hopeless Brides and Refugee Grooms

#Afghan women lament the exorbitant dowry amounts incurred after their engagement, saying “absurd” cultural norms create a variety of issues, including domestic violence and termination of their marriage.

Between Life and Death in Winter's Cold

Between Life and Death in Winter's Cold

Afghans across the country endured an unprecedented cold snap in January that left dozens of people and thousands of livestock dead.

Afghan Journalist Eyes Bleak Future

Afghan Journalist Eyes Bleak Future

Mushtari Mashal worked hard to get a degree in journalism, a profession she has been passionate about since childhood, but despite her hard work she is still unemployed.

Fear on Every Corner, the Final Days of the U.S. War in Afghanistan

Fear on Every Corner, the Final Days of the U.S. War in Afghanistan

In firsthand accounts, Afghan civilians and U.S. Marines describe the chaos and desperation outside Kabul's airport. The evacuation was marred by missteps, violence, and tragedy. Then a suicide bombing ripped through the crowd, killing and injuring hundreds. A bombing U.S. officials knew was coming. By: Brian

Little Hope the Taliban Can Solve Afghanistan's Numerous Crises

Little Hope the Taliban Can Solve Afghanistan's Numerous Crises

Today we ask Afghans for their honest opinions about the current crises.

Violence Against Journalists Double since Taliban Takeover

Violence Against Journalists Double since Taliban Takeover

Reporting by Abdul Ahad Poya, Nazar Mohammad Razmal Zaman, Abdul Karim Azim, and Mirzahussain Sadid, Written by Mohammad Jawad Alizada, and edited by Brian J. Conley KABUL – Cases of violence against journalists in Afghanistan have more than doubled since the Taliban victory last August, an annual report by Afghan media

Taliban House-to-House Raids Spark Widespread Criticism

Taliban House-to-House Raids Spark Widespread Criticism

The Taliban launched a house-to-house search operation in Kabul and adjacent provinces, leading to widespread domestic and global criticism.

Half of Afghanistan, Snowbound for Winter

Half of Afghanistan, Snowbound for Winter

Each year the winter brings heavy rain and snow, cutting off travel between many of Afghanistan's provinces and districts. During the winter, more than half of Afghanistan's provinces are blanketed in snow for weeks at a time.

Sugar Factories a Sweet Deal for Rural Villages

OneDayinAfghanistan

Sugar Factories a Sweet Deal for Rural Villages

Afghan sugar producer employee 10 at his factory in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province. Factory owner Amrullah Kamawal started the business some three years ago using his own funds to purchase the machinery and equipment needed.

Taliban Flog Civilian Accused of Adultery

Taliban Flog Civilian Accused of Adultery

Taliban flogged an Afghan civilian accused of adultery in south-central Oruzgan province last Tuesday.

Name Calling: an Afghan Curse

OneDayinAfghanistan

Name Calling: an Afghan Curse

Muzghan Rawoofi helps her household by knitting and embroidery after returning to her hometown following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in mid-August of last year.

A City Without a Plan, the Hurdles of a Snowy Kabul Winter

A City Without a Plan, the Hurdles of a Snowy Kabul Winter

Written by Mirzahussain Sadid, edited by Mohammad J. Alizada and Brian J. Conley “Kabul bay zar basha, bay barf nay.” May Kabul be without jewels but not without snow is a phrase as old as the city’s history. But snow is not always a welcome sight in the tightly-packed

Heavy Rainfall in Kandahar Brings Hope to Farmers and Nuisance to City Residents

Heavy Rainfall in Kandahar Brings Hope to Farmers and Nuisance to City Residents

Written by Nazar Mohammad Razmal Zaman, edited by Mohammad J. Alizada and Brian J. Conley KANDAHAR — Recent rainfall in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province hit by persistent drought over the past several years have somewhat removed fears of continuous drought in the province. But the province is far from eradicating

Report: U.S. Marines Returned Fire After Suicide Bombing, but No Enemies Were Shooting at Them

Investigative Featured

Report: U.S. Marines Returned Fire After Suicide Bombing, but No Enemies Were Shooting at Them

by Brian J. Conley and Mohammad J. Alizada, Alive in Afghanistan, and Joshua Kaplan [https://www.propublica.org/people/joshua-kaplan] and Joaquin Sapien [https://www.propublica.org/people/joaquin-sapien], ProPublica [https://www.propublica.org/] This article was co-published with ProPublica [https://www.propublica.org/article/report-u-s-marines-returned-fire-after-suicide-bombing-but-no-enemies-were-shooting-at-them] , a nonprofit newsroom that

Desperate Afghans Sell Belongings to Survive Hunger

Desperate Afghans Sell Belongings to Survive Hunger

Written by Abdul Ahad Poya, edited by Mohammad J. Alizada and Brian J. Conley “I saved up money for years to buy and complete home appliances and necessities but after Ashraf Ghani fled and Kabul fell, I had no choice but to sell most of my valuable belongings out of

Female Teachers Face a World of Issues

Female Teachers Face a World of Issues

Reporting by Sima Siwash, Abdul Karim Azim and Mirzahussain Sadid, written by Mohammad J. Alizada and edited by Brian J. Conley AFGHANISTAN — “I am not very hopeful, we received salaries for a single month after three months, we have no idea how long it might take to get paid for

Despair, Like Prices, on the Rise

Despair, Like Prices, on the Rise

Written by Mohammad J. Alizada, edited by Brian J. Conley AFGHANISTAN — Tears form in the eyes of an old, frail woman as she walks away in silence after being asked about her life and how she manages it. Ozra Wahidi, the woman selling plastic bags for 10 Afghanis ($0.11)

Once Bustling, Kabul’s Bookstores Gather Dust

Once Bustling, Kabul’s Bookstores Gather Dust

By Abdul Ahad Poya, edited by Mohammad J. Alizada and Brian J. Conley Lately only a limited number of people; those who are working on their dissertation or have specific needs, read books. It seems like reading is a forgotten phenomenon and bookstores are filled with books gathering dust. Many

Fear of Shadows; a joke that is now the truth

Fear of Shadows; a joke that is now the truth

Editorial by Abdul Ahad Poya, Edited by Mohammad J. Alizada and Brian J. Conley The atmosphere of Afghanistan; especially Kabul, the capital city with a population of six million, resembles its smoky weather: poisonous and tormenting. These days Kabul has once again become one of the most polluted capitals in

Women No Longer Able to Feed Their Families

Women No Longer Able to Feed Their Families

Reporting by Sima Siawash, written by Mohammad Jawad Alizada, edited by Brian J. Conley Nili — Sitting in a triangle on several layers of cloth and flour bags stretched wide in a yard full of trees and other vegetation, a woman and two girls are shelling almonds in the shade of

The Struggle for Recognition Continues

The Struggle for Recognition Continues

Written by Mohammad Jawad Alizada, edited by Brian J. Conley Hadia Yaqoobi had to take a job at a female clothing store, Gul Negar Handicrafts, after losing her job following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan mid-August this year. Ms. Yaqoobi worked at a private office that had to close its

The Taliban Evict Hazara Families

The Taliban Evict Hazara Families

Reporting by Sima Siawash, edited by Mohammad Jawad and Brian Conley Updated with a comment from Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesman. Daikundi — The Taliban have ordered the eviction of hundreds of ethnic Hazara families from at least two districts — Gizab and Pato — in central Daikundi province of Afghanistan within the last

Women Resist a Return to Repression

Women Resist a Return to Repression

Written by (reporters’ names withheld for their safety), edited by Mohammad Jawad Alizada & Brian Conley Kabul — The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, Taliban’s official name for its caretaker government following the collapse of the western backed government in Afghanistan mid-August, does not only have to confront an armed resistance,

Rockets Return to Kabul

Journalism Featured

Rockets Return to Kabul

Written by (reporters name withheld for their safety), edited by Mohammad Jawad Alizada & Brian Conley KABUL — Since the Taliban’s takeover, everyone in Kabul is scared, but when there’s a rocket attack, a reporter has to investigate. On my way to Shahrak-e-Tilayi, the area where the rockets were