ENDANGERED
Acrylic, colored pencil, collage, molding paste on cradled panel. 2023
“Endangered” is a statement on the fragile rights and existence of Afghan women and girls. In the years between 2001 and 2021, Afghan women had made great gains without the restrictive, hardline and terrifying Taliban regime controlling every aspect of their lives. They enrolled in university, open businesses, held positions in the government, worked outside the home and had hope for their children, especially for their girls, in a bright future. The return of the Taliban in Afghanistan, however, spelled an end to the advances made by the women in that country.
Women were forbidden from attending classes, lost their hard-earned jobs, were forced back into wearing the burqa and could not leave their homes without a male escort. Forced marriage between young girls and much older Taliban males was once again occurring. The hopes and dreams for Afghan women and girls came to a screeching halt.
There is hope, however, thanks to groups and individuals determined to make changes happen. One woman in particular is Shabana Basij-Rasikh, who founded SOLA (School of Leadership-Afghanistan), and when Afghanistan fell to the Taliban in 2021, Shabana managed to spirit her entire school out of the country to take refuge in Rwanda, where they have been warmly welcomed and supported.
