In the UK, many students are returning to school this week, but in Afghanistan, women and girls remain banned from secondary schools and much of public life due to the Taliban’s restrictions. Mah, a 22-year-old who fled Afghanistan in August 2021 when the Taliban seized Kabul, is now living in Cardiff, Wales. This week, she began her GCSE in English, sharing with BBC Newsbeat that while she feels grateful for her freedom and safety, she can’t help but think of her friends back in Afghanistan who face severe limitations.

Since the Taliban's return to power three years ago, restrictions on women have only intensified. Girls over 12 are prohibited from attending school, and most women are barred from taking university entrance exams. Women are also restricted from various jobs, with beauty salons, parks, gyms, and sports clubs closed to them.

Mah deliberately avoids sharing photos of her enjoying life in the UK on social media, as she doesn't want to remind her friends of the stark contrast in their situations. Despite starting her education in Cardiff and aspiring to become a midwife in Wales, Mah finds it difficult knowing her friends in Afghanistan can barely leave their homes.

The Taliban has claimed the ban on women’s education stems from religious concerns, and they have repeatedly promised to reinstate women in classrooms once the curriculum is made "Islamic." However, there has been no progress, and Afghanistan remains the only country with such restrictions.

Mah's journey to education in the UK was fraught with danger. She fled from Helmand Province to Kandahar and then Kabul, only to wake up one night to find the Taliban on her street. Fearing for her life, she called her mother and left the country, eventually arriving in the UK. Though she’s grateful for her new life, Mah says she will never forget Afghanistan, where she grew up and went to school.

In Cardiff, Mah received support from Urdd, a youth organization, and learned English with their help. Three years later, she gave a 20-minute interview in English and is now also learning Welsh. She encourages people in the UK to be thankful for their freedom and safety.

A similar story comes from Aqdas, a 17-year-old Afghan girl who fled to the US on a scholarship. She vividly remembers the day the Taliban took Kabul and feared losing her rights, just as her mother had experienced 20 years ago. With her mother’s encouragement, Aqdas continued her education online through the Herat online school. Her journey to the US was also challenging, requiring a medical visa to leave Afghanistan. Aqdas highlights that, beyond education, Afghan girls suffer from widespread mental health issues like depression and anxiety, with little support available.

The UK government has strongly condemned the Taliban’s ban on women’s education, calling for an urgent reversal to protect Afghan girls' rights. However, the Taliban has yet to respond to these concerns.