The Passenger

A strange thing happened to me last week. I had just come out of the drugstore and gotten into my car when the door suddenly opened and a woman got into the backseat. I swung around and was about to tell her that my yellow car wasn't a taxi and ask her to leave when …

Teona and Vance

It was Friday afternoon and he was going home at a reasonable hour for the first time in weeks. He was looking forward to a quiet and relaxing weekend. He stepped out into the bright sunshine. The sun felt good on his face. Usually, it was dark when he left the office. Some times he …

Mahsa Amini

Masha Amini was in Tehran when she was arrested. Her brother was told that she would be taken to the detention center to undergo a "briefing class" and released in an hour. Two hours later, Masha had a heart attack and a brain seizure. She died two days later. Her brother noticed bruises on her …

Rehema’s Visitor

Rehema sat there on the floor with her knees drawn and her hands clasped around them, staring straight ahead of her. It had been weeks since Trishan visited her and she told him about her past. She would never forget the expression on his face when she finished her story and just before he said …

Saturday Morning

Weeks had passed and by now his hair had grown back at the sides. It was early Saturday morning. He hadn't slept well and after tossing and turning, he decided to get up. The sun had just risen. He shaved and took a long shower before fixing himself breakfast. After he ate, he washed up …

Trishan Visits Rehema

It was half-past five and Aunt Savitri was in the living-room, relaxing and watching television. I decided that it was time for me to leave. "I'll see you on Saturday," I said. "And again on Sunday at the barbecue." "Yes, I'll see you then. Have a good week." "Thanks, you too." "Don't forget to take …

No Education Leads to Risk of Child Marriage

Photo by Monstera on Pexels.com On March 23, 2022, the first school year here in Afghanistan, I was excited about returning and eagerly looked forward to seeing my classmates and teachers again. I along with other students showed up bright and early only to find the doors closed and armed Taliban guards. My heart sank. …

Rehema’s Story

Getty's Image I was sitting in my room thinking how lucky I was to be here in London. It seemed like just the other day when my world had turned upside down. I left my home in Kenya when a woman whom I thought was my friend told me about a job at Pathfinder International, …

Taliban Restrictions & Assignments

"What's the matter, Honey?" Dushan asked Chioma. "Remember how I told you that I really wanted that assignment on the latest Taliban restrictions on Afghan women?" "Yes." "Well, Lydia decided to send Josh, one of our male reporters instead." "Did she tell you why she decided to send him instead of you?" "She said that …

India’s Female Sugarcane Cutters

Image for representational use only. Image Courtesy : COUNTERVIEW.ORG Today, I was shocked to learn about female sugarcane cutters removing their wombs and was curious to find out why. A report by the Hindu Business Line revealed that seasonal migrant women workers have no other choice but to resort to hysterectomies so that they don’t …