The Current The Current

Being a woman in Afghanistan

Sep 14, 2026 · 13m

Summary

CBC’s Margaret Evans reports on an unnamed Afghan woman whose life was upended by the Taliban’s 2021 return to power. Once a promising aid worker, she is now confined to her home under strict decrees that ban education, work, and public movement without a male guardian. Despite being deemed eligible for Canadian immigration, her application was lost in bureaucratic chaos, leaving her feeling abandoned by the West. She recently married for protection and continues to study virtually, hoping for international support to escape her "jail-like" existence.

Topics discussed

Sponsor: Rinse laundry service Intro: 25th anniversary of 9/11 and Afghanistan Meeting the anonymous Afghan woman Her life before the Taliban return Canada's failed immigration promise Daily life and restrictions under the Taliban Specific decrees restricting women's rights Mental health and feeling forgotten by the West Engagement and the need for a male guardian The bureaucratic collapse of her visa application Government silence and catch-22 situation Letter to PM Carney and final message Outro and show credits
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