Female athletes in Afghanistan are facing increasingly dire conditions under the Taliban, with many reporting that they are no longer allowed to engage in sports.
The Taliban’s restrictions have forced some athletes to contemplate leaving the country as they struggle with the oppressive environment and lack of opportunities.
Bushra, a former gym owner and coach in Mazar-e-Sharif, is among those who have been deeply affected by the Taliban’s policies. She shared her story with Amu, describing how the uncertainty about the future has driven many female athletes into exile. “I studied physical education in Iran and ran two sports clubs in Mazar-e-Sharif,” Bushra explained. “I trained hundreds of students in my gyms before the Taliban’s ban on women’s sports. But with the Taliban’s rise to power and the closure of sports clubs, I have been unemployed for two years.”
The situation has become so untenable that Bushra is now planning to leave Afghanistan. “The dire conditions, lack of money, and unemployment are no longer endurable. We have sold everything in the house, and now we are planning to go to Iran,” she said, highlighting the desperation felt by many female athletes who see no future under Taliban rule.
The plight of female athletes in Afghanistan has not gone unnoticed by the international community. In a recent statement, United Nations experts called on national and international sports organizations to take decisive action against the Taliban’s ban on women and girls participating in sports. The experts described the prohibition as part of the regime’s “institutionalized” system of gender discrimination and oppression, warning that it “may amount to crimes against humanity.”
Female athletes have expressed their deep frustration and sense of injustice over being denied the right to participate in sports. “Sports are essential for the health and well-being of every person, providing a foundation for a healthy life,” said Farzana Khaleqi, an athlete who has been directly affected by the Taliban’s policies. “Unfortunately, the Taliban imposed restrictions on women and girls, prohibiting them from engaging in sports, and have barred us from participating in national and international competitions.”
The Taliban has been clear about its stance on female sports. In July, Atal Mashwani, the spokesman for the Taliban-run sports directorate, confirmed that girls’ sports have been halted. “Only three athletes are representing Afghanistan,” Mashwani said, referring to male competitors. “Currently, in Afghanistan, girls’ sports have been stopped. When girls’ sport isn’t practiced, how can they go on the national team?”
The cessation of female sports in Afghanistan is part of a broader effort by the Taliban to marginalize women and girls in all aspects of society. With the closure of schools, universities, and sports clubs, many women are left with few options and little hope for the future. The Taliban’s actions have not only stripped women of their right to engage in sports but have also further deepened the social and economic divide in Afghanistan, leaving the future of female athletes in the country uncertain and bleak.
