It was just a year ago that the U.S. withdrew its troops from Afghanistan. On that date, Nahid Shahalimi, an Afghan female writer living in Germany, realized that she needed to hurry to record the stories of prominent Afghan women who soon would try to escape their country, or stay and risk death. She did so, and compiled their stories in “We Are Still Here.” The world’s attention has turned to the crisis in Ukraine, but Afghanistan is still there and should not be forgotten, particularly the stories of women oppressed by the Taliban. This week, a conversation with Nahid Shahalimi, as she writes, “Listen to these women. See them. See their commitment to freedom and to their rights."
Books mentioned in this podcast:

We are Still Here edited by Nahid Shahalimi

The Book of Life by Jidda Krishnamurti

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi

The Secret Sky: A Novel of Forbidden Love in Afghanistan by Atia Abawi

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

And The Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini

A House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi

When the Moon is Low by Nadia Hashimi

Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi

One Half from the East by Nadia Hashimi

The Sky at Our Feet by Nadia Hashimi

The Pearl that Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi