My name is Atefa Mirzaee, a resident of Balkh Province, Afghanistan. I have 3 children, three girls and one boy, whom are under 18 years old. Before the Taliban to rule in Balkh Province, Afghanistan, I had a hairdressing salon. My husband was unemployed at that time and I was barely able to support myself and my family. until on 2021/08/14, Balkh fell to the Taliban. One day, some women were doing makeup in my shop. The Taliban came behind the door of my shop and threatened me that this is against Sharia and I should close my shop and destroyed all the banners with paint so that their faces could not be seen. But I was doing my job without fear for some time. Until one day, they took my husband away from the back of the house for the crime of my make-up, and my husband was never heard from again. Every time I went to the police station to check on my husband. I was harassed by them because I was a woman. They didn't give any news about my husband, where is he? Is he alive or dead? Because I followed my husband a lot and inquired about him in many institutions. The Taliban also threatened me with death.
Three months after the incident, I contacted my father who lived in Iran. Because my life and that of my children was really in serious danger. My father talked to a smuggler and asked us to go to Iran through him. It's been almost a year and 5 months now that I don't know about my husband, is he alive or not? I live in Iran without a guardian with 4 children. It's really hard for us to live here and I can't estimate the living expenses of 3 children under 18 years old. I just learned about your humanitarian aid process.
For the following reasons, my family and I need your humanitarian help.
1- We are religious and racial minorities and we were always persecuted in Afghanistan because of being Shiites and Hazara. We even gave martyrs because of training and jobs that are against the will of the Taliban.
2- My job is a hairdresser, and the Taliban consider it against Islamic law. So I can't go to Afghanistan again to use my job.
3- My three daughters and I cannot work in Afghanistan because we are women, Shiites and Hazara.
4- My daughters were deprived of education.
5- My husband was followed and we have no news of him until now. Therefore, life in Iran has become really difficult for us without a guardian and not only the future of myself and my children is in danger, but we are also in serious danger from a vital point of view. Because our economic situation is below zero. Note: There are enough documents for my statements that will be sent to you if necessary.
Sincerely, Atefa Mirzaee
Three months after the incident, I contacted my father who lived in Iran. Because my life and that of my children was really in serious danger. My father talked to a smuggler and asked us to go to Iran through him. It's been almost a year and 5 months now that I don't know about my husband, is he alive or not? I live in Iran without a guardian with 4 children. It's really hard for us to live here and I can't estimate the living expenses of 3 children under 18 years old. I just learned about your humanitarian aid process.
For the following reasons, my family and I need your humanitarian help.
1- We are religious and racial minorities and we were always persecuted in Afghanistan because of being Shiites and Hazara. We even gave martyrs because of training and jobs that are against the will of the Taliban.
2- My job is a hairdresser, and the Taliban consider it against Islamic law. So I can't go to Afghanistan again to use my job.
3- My three daughters and I cannot work in Afghanistan because we are women, Shiites and Hazara.
4- My daughters were deprived of education.
5- My husband was followed and we have no news of him until now. Therefore, life in Iran has become really difficult for us without a guardian and not only the future of myself and my children is in danger, but we are also in serious danger from a vital point of view. Because our economic situation is below zero. Note: There are enough documents for my statements that will be sent to you if necessary.
Sincerely, Atefa Mirzaee
