This archive report was first published on 19 August 2021.
August 18, 2021, marked a somber day for Khalida Popal, the former captain of Afghanistan's women's national soccer team, as she spoke to Reuters in a video interview from Copenhagen, Denmark.
Popal, a co-founder of the Afghan women's football league, had always used her voice to encourage young women to stand strong, be bold, and be visible. However, with the Taliban's return to power, her message has changed.
She urged players to delete social media, erase public identities, and burn their kits for safety's sake. This painful decision was made necessary by the Taliban's history of violence against women, including killings, rapes, and public beatings.
Popal recalled the Taliban's 1996-2001 rule, during which women were barred from working, girls were not allowed to attend school, and women had to wear burqas to go out, accompanied by a male relative.
She expressed concern for the safety of female footballers and activists, who are now afraid of being targeted by the Taliban. 'They are so afraid. They are worried, they are scared, not only the players, but also the activists... they have nobody to go to, to seek protection, to ask for help if they are in danger,' she said.
Popal's words were a stark reminder of the country's collapse and the loss of progress made in empowering women and men. 'What we are seeing is a country collapsing,' she added. 'All the pride, happiness to be there to empower women and men of the country is like it was just wasted.'
A spokesperson for FIFA expressed concern and sympathy with those affected by the situation, stating that they are in contact with the Afghanistan Football Federation and other stakeholders, and will continue to monitor the local situation and offer support in the weeks and months to come.
