‘It looks like I have to burn all that I worked hard to achieve’

Early on Sunday morning, I was heading to university for a class when a group of women came running out from their dormitory. One of them told me the police were evacuating them because the Taliban had arrived in Kabul, and they will beat women who do not have a burqa.

We all wanted to get home, but we couldn’t use public transport. The drivers would not let us in their cars because they did not want to take responsibility for [burqa],” one called out. “It is your last days of being out on the streets,” said another. “I will marry four of you in one day,” said a third.