Morocco – The former Afghan Women’s National Football Team, now competing as Afghan Women United, marked a powerful victory for human rights this week by playing thier first matches in four years in Morocco. The team’s return to competition represents a defiant stand against the Taliban‘s ban on all sports participation for women and girls, imposed after their takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.
Prior to the Taliban’s resurgence, Afghan women athletes already faced notable threats, including death threats for representing their nation. Following the takeover, the Taliban systematically dismantled opportunities for female athletes, closing training centers and prohibiting competitions. Many players were forced to destroy symbols of their athletic careers, such as uniforms and trophies, to protect themselves. for countless women, sports had been a vital pathway to education, leadership roles, employment, and personal fulfillment.
Forced to flee Afghanistan, the players rebuilt their team in exile, carrying the hopes of those left behind who continue to suffer under Taliban repression. The Sport & Rights Alliance and Human Rights Watch recently reported that FIFA‘s initial non-recognition of the team effectively extended the Taliban’s restrictive policies beyond Afghanistan’s borders, denying Afghan athletes the right to compete internationally.
After a four-year campaign for official recognition,FIFA has now permitted the team to compete. “Playing for my country is one of the ways I can stand up for the girls back in Afghanistan,” stated Fatima Foladi, a former member of Afghanistan’s Under-15 and Under-19 national teams. ”My dream is to be reunited with my teammates from all over the world, to play with them again and bring back the football dreams we had when we lived back home.”
While FIFA has not yet formally recognized Afghan Women United as the official national team, calls are growing for them to do so. Human Rights Watch and others urge FIFA and other international sports federations, including the International Cricket Council, to actively support Afghan women athletes and resist those seeking to exclude them from sports.
The team’s resilience and return to the field offer a beacon of hope for future generations of Afghan women and girls, signaling the possibility of reclaiming their rights-not only in athletics but across all facets of life.
