Humaira Rasuli is an Afghan human rights lawyer and activist.
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‘I Had to Seek Asylum in the U.S.’
Photo by Sanaullah Seiam / Getty Images
WHEN THE TALIBAN first [seized power in Afghanistan] my parents relocated to Pakistan, because we could not pursue our education; we were four girls. I was 12 years old. I saw the suffering of women from my childhood. They were always under the authority of men. They didn’t have access to health services. I studied law and trauma counseling and feminist leadership [and handled] a lot of cases of sexual violence.
[In 2021 the Taliban returned to power and are] restricting women’s rights. Women can’t continue education beyond grade six or work in leadership positions. All the [female] judges and prosecutors were removed and replaced with people who studied Sharia law, but they have no idea about court systems or fair trials. I had to seek asylum in the U.S.