After two-year home confinement Afghan woman flees Taliban rule, continues medical studies in Scotland
For over two years, I confined myself at home, drowning in sadness as my dreams vanished. Night after night, tears streamed down my face, leaving my cheeks wet and my pillow stained. My father often said he heard me sobbing in my sleep. Amid the desperation, the Linda Norgrove Foundation approached me with a proposal to bring me and other students to Scotland to continue our medical studies.
- 2 weeks ago
November 4, 2024
Medical student Omulbanin Sultani traveled to Scotland to continue her studies after the Taliban imposed a ban on women attending universities in Afghanistan. | Photo courtesy of The Linda Norgrove Foundation
SCOTLAND, United Kingdom — Growing up, I viewed education as my gateway to a bright future. When my beloved grandmother fell ill, she struggled to find female doctors nearby. Restrictions in our country of Afghanistan prevented her from receiving care from male doctors, forcing her to abandon her treatment. Witnessing her hardships ignited my journey, filling me with determination and purpose. Inspired, I committed myself to becoming a doctor focused on helping women facing similar challenges.
Read more stories out of Afghanistan from Orato World Media.
Young woman’s dream to become a doctor shatters, Taliban bans women from attending university
Growing up in a family facing financial barriers, I actively sought ways to fund my education. Joyfully, I enrolled in courses in English and computer skills. At that time, my country offered a high-quality education. When the Linda Norgrove Foundation, dedicated to supporting women and children in Afghanistan for over 14 years, contacted us, hope washed over me. One day, their team visited our home to discuss supporting my education. Immediately, I accepted their offer, grateful for the opportunity.
In December 2022, while preparing for an exam scheduled for the next day, my sister burst in with life-changing news. She saw a report revealing the Taliban announced women would no longer be allowed to attend universities starting the next day. This decision shattered my dreams of becoming a doctor, leaving me hopeless. Throughout the night, I cried, unable to find comfort.
Suddenly, we women felt trapped in our homes, unable to venture out alone. I transitioned from being a medical student to living a confined existence. Girls could only attend school until they turned 12, ending their formal education. Consequently, my worst nightmares resurfaced as I felt utterly desperate, yearning for help.
Hope arises as woman receives support to study medicine in Scotland
For over two years, I confined myself at home, drowning in sadness as my dreams vanished. Night after night, tears streamed down my face, leaving my cheeks wet and my pillow stained. My father often said he heard me sobbing in my sleep. Amid the desperation, the Linda Norgrove Foundation approached me with a proposal to bring me and other students to Scotland to continue our medical studies.
They urged me not to worry about the situation, promising to do everything they could to keep their word. In the deep darkness surrounding us, this promise brought a glimmer of hope. To evaluate my academic level, I took a test, and we embarked on this complex and risky mission together. I began studying online and participating in organized sessions. To discuss the challenges we faced under the Taliban regime, I even received consultations with therapists. These sessions offered emotional support, especially in the sad moments.
I felt privileged while many of my closest friends struggled with deep depression and lacked access to therapy. Despite the strength of these women, the Taliban regime devastated them. In areas far from Kabul, in the heart of the provinces, villages, and towns, the circumstances for women grew even graver. Women in those areas experienced constant fear for their lives. They faced the threat of forced marriages, confining them to roles in cooking, cleaning, and childcare.
Woman leaves her family behind, navigating challenges to reach Scotland
My journey to Scotland presented numerous obstacles and uncertainties. First, the foundation negotiated my trip to Pakistan to apply for a U.K. visa. Then, I tackled the challenges of passing English exams and succeeding in university interviews. As we faced numerous rules and global issues, complicating matters, the process became more daunting.
During these tough times, the Linda Norgrove Foundation provided unwavering support, guiding us and ensuring we never felt alone. When the day finally arrived and all the arrangements were in place, I bid farewell to my family. It was an emotional moment. I still vividly remember their faces, filled with warm wishes and a longing to see me again soon. That image remains etched in my mind.
Recognizing the danger, I understood I had to travel over land to Pakistan before flying from Islamabad to Edinburgh. As I journeyed down the road to Pakistan, my heart throbbed with the rhythm of the tires. Each beat propelled me into the unknown as I chased my dream and attempted to piece my life back together, leaving behind everything I loved.
Amid scrutiny and fear, woman faces Taliban border guards
Fear gripped me as I imagined a Taliban-driven truck crossing my path at any moment. I sensed the threat to my life and the risk of kidnapping. Both of those outcomes could erase my identity. Throughout the journey, I remained acutely aware of the panic and despair that accompanied my encounters with their gaze. Undoubtedly, I think every woman in Afghanistan experiences this.
Upon arriving at the border with Pakistan, I faced complications as officials refused to grant me a visa. My fiancé and I nearly begged the Taliban guards to allow us to pass through while we endured a tense moment in the suffocating heat exceeding 45 degrees. With strange looks, the guards scrutinized us and checked my bag. Scolding me for carrying $200, they asked, “Why are you carrying money by yourself? You shouldn’t have money.”
I avoided eye contact and shuddered when they questioned, “Why do you want to carry clothes? You don’t need clothes; we think you plan to do business with these clothes in Pakistan.” At the border, every aspect challenged me as I fought to remain composed and steady. The stress felt overwhelming. I feared for my life, knowing any answer, tone, or reaction could lead to the worst outcome. However, I told the guards I needed to pass and was only visiting. Surprisingly, they suddenly allowed us to cross. As I stepped over the border, disbelief washed over me as each step felt like a new opportunity.
Afghan woman finds new beginnings in Scotland
As we parted ways, I said goodbye to my fiancé, breaking our hearts. Letting go while promising to meet again soon served as the ultimate demonstration of our love. Once I boarded the plane, I began to transform my pain and anguish into strength. The plane roared down the runway, deafening me. A chill ran through me as I watched my past fade beneath a sea of clouds.
After flying for over 11 hours, I felt relieved when the plane landed. At first, I struggled to believe I arrived, wrestling with the reality I had overcome all those challenges. However, the warm welcome in Scotland eased everything. It filled me with speechless gratitude for all the people who supported me. My mother always called me sensitive and chicken-hearted. Nonetheless, on my first night in Scotland, I slept alone for the first time in my life. I gazed around my room as if I discovered a new world. I struggled to sleep until exhaustion finally took over.
The next morning, I explored my surroundings and quickly fell in love with both the weather and the place. Freedom enveloped my soul, ready to fuel my journey as I entered college for the second time. The university reception buzzed with festivities while everyone greeted me warmly. Certainly, the Linda Norgrove Foundation treated me like their daughter.
Woman becomes a voice for Afghan women in their fight for rights
The inability to attend college or continue my life caused me immense pain and sadness. It felt as if someone stripped away a basic human right, like telling me not to breathe or eat. Nevertheless, my journey to Scotland sparked a transformative journey, enabling me to create a new version of myself. This quest for a better life became possible through the unwavering support of my respected family, especially my esteemed parents, my beloved fiancé, my sisters and brothers, and The Linda Norgrove Foundation.
They saved my life in every sense, along with everyone who encouraged me on this noble path. In Scotland, I discovered the future when I thought I lost all hope. Afghanistan is my home, where I took my first steps in life. I aspire to return there to take those steps again someday. I always believed in the saying, “If you educate a man, you educate an individual. If you educate a woman, you educate a generation.” Today, this belief resonates more strongly than ever.
Afghanistan remains a battlefield, where one of the worst nightmares transformed into reality. Women endure subjugation and lack essential rights, including the right to education and the right to work. They cannot go out in public without covering their faces or without the permission and company of a man. While women in Afghanistan cannot raise their voices in public, I speak up for them from over 6,000 kilometers away.
My journey here will span years. During this time, I believe many changes will unfold in Afghanistan. I am hopeful we will witness all girls and women gaining an education, working, and playing freely one day. Currently, a generation grows up in Afghanistan without opportunities, but we must prepare for change as a bright and sunny day follows every night.
