Five years have passed since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan following the government’s collapse in August 2021. During this time, Canada has provided refuge to more than 60,000 Afghan individuals, including Farkhunda Hashimy and her family, who arrived in Saskatoon in 2023.

Hashimy, who was a high school student in Kabul when the Taliban seized power, reminisces about the freedoms she once enjoyed in Afghanistan. She had the opportunity to pursue education and a career before the regime change. However, after the Taliban takeover, women and girls were restricted from attending school beyond Grade 6, and many professions once held by women were eliminated.

According to the United Nations, the Taliban has implemented over 100 decrees affecting the daily lives of women and girls in Afghanistan. Natasha Arnpriester, a senior legal counsel at the Open Society Justice Initiative, is working on a case against the Taliban for the International Court of Justice.

Hashimy, who aspired to attend university and become an athlete, found her dreams shattered by the regime change. The severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban have not only hindered women’s access to education but have also limited their ability to work and seek healthcare.

In Canada, Hashimy and her family found safety through the assistance of the 30 Birds Foundation, which has facilitated the relocation of over 400 Afghan women and girls to Saskatoon. Hashimy, currently studying urban planning at the University of Saskatchewan, expresses gratitude for the foundation’s support, emphasizing the sense of safety and opportunity she now experiences in Canada.

While embracing her new life in Canada, Hashimy remains connected to the women and girls in Afghanistan who continue to endure under Taliban rule. She is determined to succeed in her studies and future career to empower herself and eventually support those still facing oppression in her homeland.