Read at 3 different speeds

Afghan's secret teachers - 24 August 2022

It's one year since foreign forces withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban regained control of the country.

Since returning to power, the Taliban have imposed harsh restrictions on girls and women to comply with their strict interpretation of Islam, which has effectively squeezed women out of public life.

Whilst primary schools and universities remain open to women but under strict rules, secondary schools for girls are firmly closed. As a result, secret schools have begun to spring up.

Nafeesa, not her real name, pretends she’s attending a madrasa or school teaching the Qur’an.

Nafeesa: "My brother is a Talib, he wouldn't allow me to come here. He even tried to stop me when I was in grade eight. I use madrasa as an excuse to come here. My brother doesn't know that I come to school here, only my mother supports me."

As most of these secret schools are set up in private houses, the teachers are also at great risk. Tamkin, a pseudonym, is one such teacher.

Tamkin: "Recently, some Taliban have moved in the house in front of us. They have asked several times what is going on here. I have asked the girls to say it is a madrasa. People in the neighbourhood know that I have studied shariah and women rights, and in the past I used to speak about religious topics on TV."

The Taliban maintain that they will permit girls returning to secondary school and claim that a technical issue is preventing this whilst they develop an appropriate Islamic curriculum. However, Tamkin, like the other secret teachers, will press on with their work, hoping for a brighter future for their students.

Tamkin: "I didn't want these girls to be like me, they should have a better future than me. Currently, many minor girls are forced to get married, like I was. I was engaged at 12 years old. I struggled a lot to get an education, that's why I don't want them to go through as much."