Coppia afghana trova rifugio a Larino: una storia di fuga e speranza

Maryam, a 29-year-old woman from Herat who escaped Kabul after the Taliban returned to power, shares her story. She explains that she was not allowed to leave the house alone and always had to be accompanied by a male family member. She was also forced to wear the hijab and attend separate schools for males and females.

Maryam, who has a degree in Political Science, managed to leave Afghanistan with her 31-year-old husband Nawid, who works for the World Bank in Kabul and is involved in human rights advocacy. They sought refuge in Pakistan, where they faced heavy restrictions as Afghan refugees. They lived there for 14 difficult months, unable to work due to strict police rules that prevented them from leaving their homes. Eventually, they were able to leave Pakistan and reach Italy. They are now living in Larino, where they are being hosted by the Sprar project managed by the Istituto Gesù e Maria.

Maryam had already experienced displacement as a child when she had to leave Herat to go to Iran with her father. As an Afghan refugee in Iran, she faced inequality and limited rights. She was forced to wear the veil from a young age, and even participating in school sports competitions was forbidden. Her family had to pay a lot of money for her to be able to study. The situation in Iran became unbearable, so she and her parents returned to Afghanistan shortly after the fall of the Taliban.

Life in Afghanistan was not easy, and the same applied to Islamabad, where they sought refuge. They were not allowed to leave their house, and if the police caught them outside, they had to pay to avoid being taken to the police station, despite having valid documents. Finding work was impossible, and they struggled to even afford food.

Now, Maryam and Nawid are living happily in Larino. Their 5-year-old son attends preschool, and they have no desire to return to Afghanistan. They see their future in Italy, where Maryam plans to pursue a master’s degree in Political Science and find a job.

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