In a narrow street in Herat, the sound of sewing machines and the smell of leather fill a small but vibrant workshop, where Kamela Mirzaei—a girl whose life took an unexpected turn and who was denied the opportunity to continue her education—now works in a shoemaking workshop. She says the workshop has been operating officially for the past four years and is run with the help of her family members.
According to dentists, hormonal changes during different stages of a woman’s life—from puberty and menstruation to pregnancy—are among the major factors contributing to dental and gum problems. These changes can lead to gum inflammation, bleeding, tooth decay, and increased tooth sensitivity.
A number of pregnant women in Kunduz are experiencing swelling of the body, a condition that disrupts their daily lives and requires proper awareness and medical care. Doctors warn that this condition, particularly during the final months of pregnancy, can have serious consequences for both mother and baby.
Findings from interviews conducted by Salam Watandar with 24 women learning foreign languages indicate that language learning in Afghanistan has become a key strategy for accessing education, employment, and migration.
Although religious scholars state that the home serves as a hijab for women, and in the absence of non-mahram men in the home environment, a woman can wear clothing of her own choice within the framework of Sharia, a number of women interviewed by Salam Watandar in Herat say their fathers or husbands do not allow them to wear their preferred clothing inside the home.
Bilal Rozgani, spokesperson for the Uruzgan Police Command, says a man has been arrested in Uruzgan Province on charges of killing his wife.
Eid al-Adha is one of the joyful Islamic occasions celebrated among people with happiness, solidarity, and family gatherings. During the days and nights of Eid, people prepare to create lasting and memorable moments in their lives. Among them are women who spend Eid nights baking cookies and ‘Roghan joshi’ before decorating their hands with Henna –a lasting tradition that still remains an essential part of the beauty and spirit of Eid in many Afghan households.
Curettage is a medical procedure used to clean the uterus. According to doctors, it is performed in cases such as incomplete miscarriage, retained tissue or placenta in the uterus, severe bleeding, and other conditions that threaten the mother’s health. However, the experiences of women in Badghis show that the procedure is far more than a simple medical measure, as it is often accompanied by anxiety, pain, and numerous challenges.
Cleaning and preparing the house before Eid is one of Afghanistan’s long-standing traditions. Many women in Afghanistan still carry out this exhausting work without taking breaks. The tradition is considered so important among Afghan women that even pregnant women, despite being aware of the potential risks, continue to carry out pre-Eid house cleaning several times a year without hesitation.
The United Nations Population Fund in Afghanistan (UNFPA) has said that Afghanistan is the fifth country with the highest cases of obstetric fistula in the world.
25 female doctors, who in addition to their official regular daytime duties also take turns working night shifts in hospitals, say that due to the shortage of medical staff in healthcare centers, they are compelled to endure heavy and continuous workloads. According to them, this situation has led to severe fatigue and psychological stress.
Some women in Panjshir, Daikundi, and Kabul provinces, in interviews with Salam Watandar, say that their husbands have migrated to earn a living, but their husbands’ families ignore their rights. After their husbands’ migration, these women’s roles within the family are diminished, and the money sent by their husbands is spent without their knowledge or participation.
