20 Years
A film colleague discusses her sister being stuck in Kabul, Taliban, Afghan resettlement for refugees, and timing of Canadian elections.
As the world witnesses Taliban overtake Afghanistan I spoke with a film colleague about her sister being stuck in Kabul.
Over the course of three days this interview has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity. On record: August 17th, 2021 9:39 AM Vancouver time. Opinions our own.
Shabnam: Why are people afraid to discuss and criticize Taliban?
TS: [pauses] People afraid to speak about Taliban in Canada I believe stems from media, academic, and governments promoting a climate where we cannot discuss tough subjects in a thoughtful way as they may be deemed controversial.
Shabnam: [surprised] Oh?
TS: What do you think?
Shabnam: I don't think so.
Taliban is something I should never stop my mouth from talking about. What am I afraid of? Well — I'm not.
If I talk about Taliban and lose my Canadian citizenship so be it.
It's my right to speak with women, my people, and family who is in Kabul. Stuck. [Quiet pause as a tear streams down her cheek] I will speak up. I will speak and fight for this.
TS: Do we have an update on your sister in Kabul?
You talked to a lawyer.
You're still awaiting more details on Afghan resettlement program for 20,000 refugees. We called Minister of National Defence and Hon. Harjit Sajjan constituency based in Vancouver yesterday morning. Receptionist told us they cannot discuss a timeline. Told receptionist dms from Kabul and Afghan women in Canada on when the program is going live are urgent.
Shabnam: Messaged my sister she’s still there. No update on flights as Taliban is meeting in Doha talking about what will happen next. I talked with my lawyer an hour ago. She's getting back to me. I don't know. [Update: 15:16 PM August 18, 2021 — Shabnam still waiting for update. Paid her lawyer today. No flights. Sister is safe when she last spoke]
TS: Yalda Hakim recently had a phone call with Taliban spokesperson Suhail Shaheen live on BBC World News.
Just this morning another Taliban spokesperson came out who has never shown his face to world media before. Went on record to say Taliban will promote peace and equality for women under IEA. Your thoughts?
Shabnam: Will they?
I hope it's not for ear. When I was kid they removed my mother from working and the schools were closed for Afghan women. She worked for six months then they stopped her.
TS: There's been reports Afghan women had to flee Kabul now as Afghan women are organizing publicly on Twitter for safety with media targeting increasing since start of Doha talks on September 12, 2020.
Shabnam: Really?
TS: Different strands of narratives coming out from those on-ground as an era of Taliban going on record for the world to see has emerged. Now people can see for themselves if they're looking for eyes and not backing their words.
Shabnam: I think why Taliban is doing this is they know Canada, US, Australia, UK, and Germany are giving people opportunity to get out of Afghanistan.
Taliban may be lost here since most of Afghans will leave Afghanistan and they won't have enough people to enslave to kill or target including Afghan women. My guess is they say this to keep people in Afghanistan. You never know.
They change faces very quickly.
TS: So what you're saying is you never know with the Taliban. Are you saying they're taking advantage of the moment?
Shabnam: Yes I am.
TS: You told me moments before we recorded that you will go back to Afghanistan.
Yesterday morning the sight of Taliban flag on the news wasn't easy to process. The words, “20 years” followed by a long silence. We both tried to process quietly.
I turned off the phone so a film production wouldn’t interrupt.
I started calling IRCC who never returned calls, tweets, and emails on the weekend [referring to press secretary Alexander Cohen for IRCC]
If Kabul airport were to resume operations now you would go back?
Shabnam: Yes. If Taliban stops women from working and studying I have to go. I have to fight for our rights. If Malala did for her country why wouldn't I?
I'm human. I have to fight for our rights. I have this feeling. I have to do it for Afghan women. I was thinking.. I was a child when Taliban had power. Why are we stopping from fighting now? We have to be working and studying. Why should we accept what Taliban tell us to do?
We have to fight now and stand together if we do this we can continue progress that was made. I would never allow Taliban to tell me to stay home. No. I don't know why I have to say this. When I was a child we had to accept what a man says, and that's why I won't accept Taliban's words.
If we stand today we will make a better future for Afghan women. I don't know what everyone wants but for myself I have to fight.
TS: How do you think Canadians can help right now in this moment?
Shabnam: I want my voice to get into Taliban's ears.
People around the world need to know we will fight for Afghan women. I'm not afraid of Taliban. I will go back and stand in front of them even if they point a gun at me. Taliban do not know peace for women they cannot tell me how to think or study. I can’t think about the last 20 years and see this Taliban flag rise. What else would I do? I have to fight for human rights.
TS: Vice President Amrullah Saleh is being reported as still in Afghanistan.
Shabnam: It’s believed he’s in Panjshir. Possibly with Abdullah Abdullah and Karzai to face Taliban and to not let Taliban get to Panjshir. Panjshir is small but it’s Afghanistan and you have to encourage people to fight for their rights everywhere in Afghanistan. I don’t want to blame anyone. [Pauses to think] There are people hating human rights and continuing to take human rights away from everyone in Afghanistan.
TS: What are your expectations for when Afghan refugees and more Afghan interpreters arrive in Canada?
How do you think we can keep connecting our stories to Afghanistan and Afghanistan war when it’s been taboo to talk about in Canada?
We are all in our heads. In action-mode. Not sleeping. People or institutions didn't take words, stories, predictions, or warnings for years.
So what can we do now?
Shabnam: It’s quite simple. Start by listening to people and listen to people when they arrive.
If we don't do things faster today it will be too late. There will be global consequences. I watch the news what Trudeau says but time is running out. There are security risks at the airport in Afghanistan yet there are other ways and Afghans can get to neighboring countries then we can get them out to Canada.
TS: Trudeau did call an election. There are concerns with timing of a Canadian election as anything that is staggering now may be impacting what is happening in Kabul and Afghan Resettlement. People are wondering how did this impact getting CAF out to Afghanistan for emergency evacuation and other questions we don't know.
Shabnam: Canada should delay the election. When we are safe we can do the election anytime. People in danger including Afghans, Canadians, and embassies are stuck in Afghanistan. Bring them out first safely then will go to the polls.
TS: Do you think people are apprehensive to talk about Afghanistan with the pandemic going on and climate change? How can we encourage Canadians into the Afghanistan discussion now?
Shabnam: I care about many political issues in Canada and everything that is happening now while knowing we need to save lives. We need to focus on climate change and wildfires while saving lives in Afghanistan. There’s so much going on. I don't understand why the election was called now.
TS: Any words for Afghan women in Afghanistan or Afghan women in Canada now?
Shabnam: Please stand together we can fight for our rights. There are good men that can help yet ultimately you must learn to fight for yourself.
We can stand together.
Editorial tips for solo freelancers: all quotes were given feedback and published with permission. I grant sources option for name changes if requested or I encourage it.
We opted for writing over audio to take breaks in documenting.
Canadian media: I encourage during these challenging times we make space for those who want to use their speech and to not pressure anyone who isn’t ready to talk about Afghanistan.
We can never assume.
Taylor Simone is a freelance journalist and techie crewing for Vancouver’s motion picture industry specializing in conflict resolution, privacy, and reporting.
She’s dispatched for Supernatural, Riverdale, Batwoman, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Nancy Drew, DC Legends, Superman & Lois, Firefly Lane, Zoeys Extraordinary Playlist, Away, Mighty Ducks, Jurassic World: Dominion, The Adam Project, & more…
Her book If At First You Don’t Succeed is slated for 2022.
Sig. taylorsimone@protonmail.com
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