Female Afghan Politicians Fear For Their Future In Exile

Female Afghan politicians who fled to Turkey after the Taliban seized control of Kabul are facing an uncertain future as their visas will soon run out, campaigners and former MPs have warned.

- Maya Oppennheim

An Afghan former senior minister, who did not want to be named, told The Independent she is struggling to support her family because the Taliban froze her bank account. The politician said she was speaking on behalf of 35 female Afghan politicians, including ministers and deputy ministers, as well as civil society activists and campaigners currently living in Turkey after escaping Afghanistan in mid-August

Speaking from Turkey, the 56-year-old said the Afghan women had only been granted temporary six-month visas and are not sure if they will be able to renew them. “We don't have any direction. We never thought the country would collapse in August suddenly. Right now we don't have any opportunities,” said the politician, who has been in Turkey for four months.

“We don't have any support from the Turkish government. There is no welfare support for immigrants. No medical support, no education, no financial support. I have three daughters. They can't go to school as the cost of education is too high.”

The Turkish government could not be reached for comment.

The politician said one of her daughters is severely disabled, and that she, her husband, and their children are simply “sitting in the house”.

“It is really, really challenging,” she added. “I did not cry for three or four years, now I'm crying every day, as we don't have any future.”