Episode 56 : "Amina," reporting from Afghanistan

The Afghanistan Project Podcast

Welcome to Episode 56 of The Afghanistan Project Podcast. Our special guest today is an Afghan woman still living under Taliban rule in hiding in Afghanistan. We will be calling her “Amina” to protect her identity.

Amina spoke about her life as a legal professional before the Taliban came to power, and the fear that accompanied their takeover as the individuals that prosecutors put in prison were freed. She also spoke about how she now lives in hiding to protect her life.

We talked about the gender apartheid that the Taliban are practicing against Afghan women, and specifically addressed education bans, a ban on independent journalism, and the sexual assaults that imprisoned women have faced. In the face of watching their human rights get stripped away, Amina said many women are facing a mental health crisis.

Despite all that she has lost in her current situation, Amina stressed that this is not the time to give up, and that “this darkness will not last forever.”

About the hosts:

Beth Bailey worked in support of Afghanistan operations as a civilian intelligence analyst for the Department of the Army between 2010 and 2013. She is a freelance contributor to Fox News Digital and the Washington Examiner. Follow her on Instagram or X ⁠@BWBailey85⁠.

Mikael Cook was an Army non-commissioned officer and veteran of the war in Afghanistan. He was an active member of the #DigitalDunkirk movement to evacuate our Afghan allies in August of 2021. You can follow him on Instagram or X ⁠@Mikaelcook89⁠.

For Afghan listeners: If you would like to have your story considered for a future episode, please send us a letter about your experiences to our show e-mail address, [e-mail]. Please include as much detail as possible, and let us know if you would like us to give you a pseudonym to protect your identity