Many forced to return, Afghan women expelled from Iran and Pakistan fighting to rebuild their lives

Hadia*, another Afghan woman at the centre, had also recently returned to Afghanistan after six years living in northern Iran with her husband and their four children, now aged 11, nine, eight and two. Although they had managed to save some money and pay rent in advance, mounting pressure and threats of arrest forced them to leave, and their landlord refused to return the advance rent they had paid.

“Now, we have only the clothes we’re wearing because we couldn’t afford to bring our belongings,” Hadia said.

Life back in Afghanistan, she explained, is especially harsh for women. “Men impose restrictions on us, constantly pressuring us to adhere strictly to [the dress code for women],” she said.

“What we desperately need here is food, shelter and – above all – peace of mind.”

She was also deeply worried about the future of her children, two daughters and two sons.

“I had planned to bring them here last year, but I worried about their education,” she said. “If they remain [in Afghanistan] they will likely be as illiterate as I am.”