An Afghan athletes story: fleeing the Taliban and life in Eastern Europe
Mary* represented Afghanistan in international sport before fleeing the country when the Taliban retook control. She managed to leave on a flight with the help of paperwork, which she thought would lead to her starting a new life in Canada. That hasn’t proved to be the case and she’s currently living with other evacuees in eastern Europe. With the Taliban banning women from playing sport, she tells us she feared being killed if she remained.
The Canadian immigration service said the purpose of the letters was to help people get through the checkpoints surrounding Kabul airport before the evacuation ended. They add it was not a document authorising permanent settlement in the country.
*Mary is not her real name. We have also disguised her voice.
Image: The Equality League
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