Afghan Women's Aspirations Crushed as Taliban Declares Internet Shutdown

Tue Oct 21 2025 22:53:18 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The Taliban's recent internet ban has extinguished the last hope of Afghan women striving for education and independence, leaving them in despair and helplessness.

Following the Taliban's indefinite internet shutdown, Afghan women like Fahima, who dreamed of pursuing online education, find themselves stripped of their last means for empowerment. With severe restrictions on education and professional opportunities, the internet was their sole outlet for progress. The move has led to widespread disruptions in communication and essential services, impacting teachers and students alike and plunging their aspirations into darkness.

Fahima Noori had big dreams when she graduated from university in Afghanistan. She had studied law, graduated from a midwifery programme, and even worked in a mental health clinic. But all that was taken away when the Taliban swept into power in 2021. They banned girls over the age of 12 from getting an education, severely restricted job options for women, and recently removed books written by women from universities.

For Fahima, the internet was her last lifeline to the outside world. I recently enrolled in an online university [and] I had hoped to finish my studies and find an online job, she said. On Tuesday, that lifeline was cut off when the Taliban imposed a nationwide internet shutdown that is set to last indefinitely. Fahima lamented, Our last hope was online learning. Now [even] that dream has been destroyed,.

The Taliban government has begun severing fibre-optic internet connections across several provinces, citing a desire to prevent immorality. This has paralyzed the country’s essential services, with international news agencies losing contact with their offices in the capital, Kabul. Mobile internet and television services have also been severely disrupted.

"Before this, I studied midwifery, but unfortunately that programme was banned for women. The only hope left for us was the internet and online learning," Shakiba from Takhar province stated. All interviewed now feel "helpless" and have seen their aspirations fade away.

Teachers like Zabi, who used to make a living through online education, share similar stories. Zabi taught students online, but many of his students faced heartbreak as they missed their chances to take exams when the internet shut down. Their last opportunity to study is now gone. Seeing my children so helpless... that was the hardest for me, said one parent.

The Taliban’s actions have also impacted businesses, with operations severely affected since much depends on internet connectivity. The Taliban’s struggle seems to deeply distress Afghan society's aspirations, suppressing what little opportunities remain for their young women.