Afghan women find some hope in online business

Описание: (6 Jun 2023)
AFGHANISTAN WOMEN BUSINESS
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
LENGTH: 2:20
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Herat province, Afghanistan - 1 June 2023
1. Close shot of 22-years-old graphic designer Bahar Jami's hand scrolling though her webpage on her smartphone
2. Various of Jami working, looking through phone and using laptop
3. SOUNDBITE (Dari) Bahar Jami, online graphic designer:
"At the beginning I was suffering from depression after being forced to stay at home, but I finally decided that nothing will change if I don’t fight back. That is how I turned to online business."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Herat province, Afghanistan - 30 May 2023
4. Taliban police checkpoint
5. Taliban police badge with text reading (Dari): "Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan"
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Herat province, Afghanistan - 1 June 2023
6. Various of women in downtown Herat city market
7. SOUNDBITE (Dari) Bahar Jami, online graphic designer:
"There is a sense of fear, but I am determined to not back off, and move forward stronger than before."
8. Men looking at books on display at women's business exhibition fair in the city of Herat
9. Various of exhibition
10. SOUNDBITE (Dari) Khatera Rahmani, owner of online bookstore business:
"Online business brings in a good income. When I first started my online bookstore, I was not sure that it will work, but after the acceptance I received from my clients, I am even now trying to open up a physical store for women."
11. Exhibition
12. Woman holding phone in her hand
13. SOUNDBITE (Dari) Marina Yama, owner of online business selling women's clothes:
"There are restrictions, but I don’t want to just sit and watch. I always think about moving forward and I want to expand my business worldwide, and I am sure I am capable of achieving this."
14. Various of exhibition

STORYLINE:
Some Afghan women have turned to online business after finding themselves barred from working or studying as a result of heavy restrictions on their activities by Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers.

Graphic designer Bahar Jami, 22, was in her last year of college when the Taliban banned women from attending universities in Afghanistan.

She had been studying graphic design in Herat province in 2022 when the decision was issued.

"At the beginning I was suffering from depression after being forced to stay at home, but I finally decided that nothing will change if I don’t fight back," she says.

After spending several months at home, she started a website that ended up bringing her some clients, also women.

Despite initial promises of a more moderate rule than during its previous stint in power, the Taliban have imposed harsh measures since seizing power in 2021.

Restrictions on women and girls include severely restricting education to banning women from most jobs, public spaces and gyms.

Women must also cover themselves from head to toe. Observers have expressed increasing concern for the state of women's basic human rights in the country.

"There is a sense of fear, but I am determined to not back off," Jami says.

At a recent exhibition in Herat for products produced by women's businesses, young female entrepreneurs presented some of their work.

One woman running an online bookstore sat next to another online business owner that sold clothing for women.

It was an opportunity for them to interact face-to-face with some of their customers.

For many, working online has become not just a way to make an income, but is also a source of hope.


"I want to expand my business worldwide, and I am sure I am capable of achieving this," Yama added.



Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter:   / ap_archive  
Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​
Instagram:   / apnews  


You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...