Afghan women lose their “last hope” while the Taliban closes the internet

Fahima Noori had great dreams when she graduated from the university in Afghanistan.

She had studied law, was a graduate of a midwife program and had even worked in a mental health clinic.

But everything that was removed when the Taliban swept power in 2021. They prohibited girls over 12 from obtaining education, severely limited employment options for women and recently suppressed books written by women from universities.

For Fahima, the Internet was her last lifeline to the outside world.

“I recently signed up for an online university (and) I hoped to finish my studies and find an online job,” she said.

Tuesday, this line of life was cut when the Taliban imposed an internet closure on a national scale which should last indefinitely.

“Our last hope was online learning. Now (even) this dream has been destroyed,” said Fahima.

His real name was changed to protect his identity, as well as the names of all the others questioned for this article.

In recent weeks, the Taliban government has started to break the internet fiber optics connections between several provinces, saying that it was part of an effort to prevent immorality.

For many, they feared that it could be the first step towards an entire internet closure.

And Tuesday, their worst fears were made. The country is currently experiencing a “total internet power outage” according to the Internet daycare Netblocks – a decision that has paralyzed the essential services of the country.

International press agencies say they have lost contact with the Kabul capital offices. Mobile Internet and satellite television have also been seriously disrupted through Afghanistan. Kabul airport flights were also disrupted, according to local media reports.

Before the national closure, the BBC spoke to certain people in Afghanistan who detailed how Internet breakdowns in their provinces had derailed their lives.

“Before that, I studied midwife, but unfortunately, this program was prohibited for women … The only hope we have left was the Internet and online learning,” said Shakiba, who lives in the northern province of Tahkar.

“We want to study. We want to be educated. We want to be able to help people in our future. When I heard that Internet had been cut, the world felt me ​​dark.”

It is a similar story for Fahima, which says that she now feels “helpless”.

“My two sisters (and I) studied online. We are used to staying up to date on news and technology via the Internet, but now we cannot continue or learn new skills,” said the student, who lives in an oriental province of Afghanistan.

“We dreamed of finishing our studies and helping our father financially, but now … we all sit at home by doing nothing.”

Since taking power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed numerous restrictions in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic Sharia law.

Earlier this month, they suppressed books written by women from the country’s university education system as part of a new ban which also prohibited the teaching of human rights and sexual harassment.

About 140 pounds of women – including titles like “Safety in the Chemical Laboratory” – proved to be “concern” due to “anti -Sharia and Taliban policies,” the Taliban said.

The Taliban government has declared that it respects women’s rights in accordance with their interpretation of Afghan culture and Islamic law.

But it was not only the students who were affected – teachers like Zabi, who used to earn a living through online education, were also struck by the prohibition.

Zabi says he had previously worked as a journalist in Pakistan, but found no opportunity on the ground on his return to Afghanistan. He decided to open an English teaching center – but was forced to take this online when the authorities have imposed restrictions on educational establishments, he said.

“I had men and women in my lessons-up to 70 or 80 students at the same time. My students were happy and our lessons went well,” he said. “They were all preparing for the IELTS (a standardized English test) and all their learning depended on the internet. Research, practice tests, official exams, everything.”

Zabi, who also lives in the east of the country, adds that there is no IELTS center in Afghanistan, so the only option for students is to take one online.

“Two days ago, about 45 of my students were in the middle of an exam when the internet was cut. They had prepared for months, but they missed the opportunity. It was heartbreaking for them – and for me as a teacher.”

He adds that he is constantly receiving calls from his students who do not know what to do.

“They continue to call me by asking” professor, what should we do? “For boys, there are still English centers, but for my students, it was their last chance.

Many people interviewed say that it is always the possibility of being connected to mobile data – but that is far too expensive for the most part, and that connectivity is uneven. A monthly plan with 100 GB of data costs 3,500 Afghani, or about $ 50 (£ 37). On the other hand, WiFi cost approximately 1,000 Afghani per month – which could still be divided between a few students.

According to a UNDP previous report, Afghanistan per capita income was $ 306 in 2024.

Zabi says he will have to leave the country so Internet is not restored soon – saying that he has no other way to earn a living.

The Taliban has not yet given an official reason for the closure. They had previously declared that another itinerary for internet access would be created, but had not given more details.

Anas, a money changer in Takhar province, said his business has been confronted with “huge problems” since the internet closed, saying that a large part of his work depends on the Internet.

“Our company was affected by around 90%,” he said. “Yesterday, my brother who is also my trading partner tried to send an email to a client. He could not pass.”

But his main concern is his three daughters – who all took online lessons.

“The previous night, we heard that the Taliban had cut internet access to Mazar, and my eldest daughter came to see me with tears in my eyes and said that she was afraid that the same thing will happen here.

“Their last opportunity to study has now disappeared. Seeing my helpless children … (it was) the most difficult for me. Only God knows what will happen to them and for me.”