Nowruz arrives with hands full of blossoms and a heart overflowing with hope. The earth breathes anew, trees turn green once more, and the world awakens from a heavy slumber. Nowruz is the promise of renewal, the belief in light after darkness, and the certainty that no winter lasts forever—that change will come.
Yet, Afghanistan remains trapped in a bitter winter, gripped by ignorance and tyranny. For the women of this land, Nowruz no longer brings the promise of change; instead, it serves as a painful reminder of unending suffering. Afghan women remain captive under a terrorist regime that knows nothing of humanity. They have been stripped of their right to education, work, and even the simple freedom to breathe in the open air. The doors of schools and universities are locked to them, the streets are emptied of their presence, and their lives are confined within walls of oppression and humiliation. In the 21st century, in a country where women once walked freely, being a woman has become a crime.
Yet, just as spring inevitably returns, we hold firm to our belief that this darkness will not last. We enter the new year with hope—hope for the fall of tyranny, the collapse of extremist and terrorist groups, and the realization of justice and freedom in our homeland. We dream of a Nowruz where we celebrate the triumph over oppression.
To all our compatriots, inside and outside Afghanistan: Happy New Year!
Writers and Staff of the Afghan Women’s Voice Journal
