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Less than a month after the Taliban entered the Afghan capital, Rabia Jamal made a difficult decision-she will face the hardliners bravely and return to work at the airport.
The organization stated that women should stay at home for their own safety. The risks are obvious, but the 35-year-old mother of three children feels she has no choice.
“I need money to support my family,” Rabia said, wearing a navy blue suit and heavy makeup.
“I feel nervous at home…I feel very bad,” she told AFP. “Now I feel better.”
Before Kabul entered the Taliban at sunset on August 15, only 12 of the more than 80 women working at the airport had returned to work.
But they are one of the very few women allowed to return to work in the capital. The Taliban have told most people not to go back until further notice.
On Saturday, six female airport staff stood at the main entrance, chatting and smiling while waiting to scan and search for female passengers on domestic flights.
Rabia’s sister, Qudsiya Jamal, 49, told AFP that she was “shocked” by the Taliban’s takeover.
“I’m very scared,” said the mother of five, who is also the only breadwinner in her family.
“My family is scared for me-they told me not to go back-but I am happy and relaxed now… so far no problem.”
Under the Taliban’s rule from 1996 to 2001, the rights of Afghan women were severely restricted, but since returning to power, the organization claims that they will not be so extreme.
The Taliban education authorities stated that as long as the classes are separated by gender or at least separated by curtains, women can go to university, but women must also wear robes, full-length robes and veils.
Despite this, Alison Davidian, UN Women’s representative in Afghanistan, warned on Wednesday that the Taliban had ignored their commitment to respect the rights of women in Afghanistan.
After the U.S. hastily evacuated and the airport is unusable, the airport is resuming operations, and Rabia said she will continue to work unless she is forced to stop.
According to the Taliban’s decree, women can work “in accordance with Islamic principles” under the new regulations, but there are few details on what this might mean.
“My dream is to become the richest girl in Afghanistan, and I think I am always the luckiest,” said Rabia, who has been working in the GAAC terminal since 2010. GAAC is a company headquartered in the UAE that provides ground And safe handling services.
“I will do what I like to do until I am no longer lucky.”
Rabia’s colleague, her name is Zala, dreams of something completely different.
The 30-year-old woman was forced to study French in Kabul after being acquired and stayed at home for three weeks.
“Good morning, take me to Paris,” she said in crappy French, while five of her colleagues laughed.
“But not now. Today, I am one of the last women in the airport.”
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