
Afghan girls play cricket on school grounds in Kabul in 2010. At the time, Afghanistan was set to select its first national women's cricket team. But a Taliban official now reportedly says women won't be allowed to play it and other sports. Shah Marai/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Afghan girls play cricket on school grounds in Kabul in 2010. At the time, Afghanistan was set to select its first national women's cricket team. But a Taliban official now reportedly says women won't be allowed to play it and other sports.
Shah Marai/AFP via Getty ImagesThis week, women protested in Kabul after the Taliban announced an all-male interim government. One woman who helped organized the protests told NPR "the world should feel" what Afghan women are facing. That woman — and another who was desperately trying to leave the country — spoke to Rachel Martin on Morning Edition. More from their interviews here.
While some women fear the rights they've gained in the last 20 years will disappear, other women — particularly in rural areas — are hopeful for a future with less violence and military conflict. Anand Gopal wrote about them for The New Yorker in a piece called "The Other Afghan Women." He spoke to Mary Louise Kelly.
Special thanks to NPR's Michele Keleman for production help on this episode.
Email us at
This episode was produced by Brent Baughman, Ryan Benk, and Matt Ozug. It was edited by Miranda Kennedy, Courtney Dorning, Lee Hale, Brianna Scott, and Fatma Tanis. Our executive producer is Cara Tallo.