Ala: I’m not calling for women to expose their heads, I want freedom for our souls, minds and spiritpublished at 14:47 Greenwich Mean Time 7 March
Image source, SuppliedAla sent us this photo of another of her paintings
Ala, who is a 28-year-old artist and dental assistant, has been back in touch with more reflections:
In truth, I see no hope in this country, except for people who are merely surviving out of sheer necessity.
Girls who are expected to behave like girls but bear the heavy burden of a large family on their shoulders, carrying an overwhelming weight of unfulfilled dreams. They are trapped in a world where doors are closed tighter with every passing moment.
How much time does a woman truly have? How can she, even for a moment, do something for herself?
When I reflect on myself, on these 28 years of my life, with little left before I turn 30, I realise I’ve spent my entire existence running, just to remain a pillar of support for my family.
Yet, we are weighed down by traditions and customs from which there is no escape. Society dictates that a person, within their limited years, should finish their studies, find work, and marry for love, starting a family with joy. But for us Afghan women, the story is different.
From the moment we are born, the world has sorrowed for us simply because we were born female. Throughout every era and historical moment, the most horrific injustices have been inflicted upon Afghan women.
I am not calling for women to expose their heads or adopt some misguided form of freedom. No, I seek the freedom of the soul, the mind, and the spirit. I long for the day when I can wake up, thank God for the sunlight, and embrace the day that He has deemed me worthy of.
I want to live a life where my heart is full of gratitude, not a life where my eyes are filled with tears, asking myself: “Why am I still alive?”