Afghanistan

CHASIcast: Fatema D. Ahmadi on women’s rights in Afghanistan

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Photo of a laptop Fatema D. Ahmadi on a Zoom video call, taken from over the shoulder of Chelsea Klassen, who is looking at the laptop. A quote reads: "“You cannot just come and cut us and say, ‘okay, these people — with their idea of human rights, with the idea of democracy — we cut them, now there is nothing, so they are removed, so we can just do whatever we want’ ... We have a root there. We have strong roots that just start flourishing one day. And these are the everyday efforts of different people, different groups. I think it’s watering those roots ‘til just one day they come up and they show resistance.” — Fatema D. Ahmadi, Fellow and Adjunct Professor at American University, School of Public Affairs"

As part of CHASI’s ongoing series on the current realities of life in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, we are honoured to welcome Fatema D. Ahmadi to the CHASIcast. Ahmadi is a Fellow and Adjunct Professor at American University, School of Public Affairs in Washington, DC, and is dedicated to advocating for human rights, particularly women’s … Read more

UFV Walk-out in support of Afghan women

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Group photo of several dozen people, many holding signs in support of the women of Afghanistan. They are lined up to pose for a photo.

To mark two years since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, CHASI and members of the Afghan community staged a university walk-out. The focus was on supporting Afghan women, who have been banned from attending high school since September 2021 and university since December 2022. Afghan activist Sahar Maqsoodi joined the event, sharing the realities of … Read more

Examining two years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan

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Two Years of Taliban Rule in Afghanistan In the month of August CHASI will be highlighting the current impact of the Taliban regime on people living in Afghanistan, with a focus on the ongoing resistance and resilience shown by the Afghan people.

Throughout August 2023 and beyond, CHASI highlighted the current situation in Afghanistan. August 8, 2023 August 10, 2023: Announcing a UFV walk-out in support of the women of Afghanistan Afghan women have been banned from attending high school since September 2021 and university since December 2022. This event will demonstrate UFV’s support for women during … Read more

CHASI calls on the international community to support Afghanistan

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Photo of Chelsea Novakowski and Afghan women skating outdoors on a snow-covered frozen lake, with brown stone cliffs in the background.

In light of this weekend’s news that the Taliban has overthrown the government of Afghanistan, CHASI joins the call for the international community to act with immediacy and urgency to ensure the significant gains the Afghan people have made in recent years are not lost. Canada has committed to resettling 20,000 Afghans, and pledged to … Read more