"There are a lot of emotions coming up, a mix of excitement and looking forward to the tournament, but also, at the same time, it's a big responsibility," defender Najma Arefi told DW. "It's not just about wearing the jersey of the Afghan women's team. It's also about representing so many of the Afghan women that have been silenced and haven't got any voice to share it with the world. They have been banned from every single human right."
"Since the Taliban retook power in 2021, following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces, women and girls in the country have had their rights stripped almost entirely. They cannot leave the house without a close male chaperone or be educated beyond a primary school level and face brutal punishments for any number of everyday actions. Life changed overnight Sport, which had started to blossom for women and girls in the 20 years since the previous Taliban regime, was also banned."
A newly formed Afghanistan women's refugee football team will play in the FIFA Unites: Women's Series from October 23 to 29 against Chad, Libya and hosts the United Arab Emirates. The team carries symbolic weight, aiming to represent Afghan women who have been silenced and stripped of rights since the Taliban returned in 2021. Taliban restrictions now prevent girls from leaving without a male chaperone, limit education beyond primary level, and impose brutal punishments, including bans on women's sport. Many players fled after 2021, and the team reunites players who had not seen each other for years.
Read at www.dw.com
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