Afghan Witness Reports

As the Taliban continue to erode women's rights, many Afghan women have turned to Instagram as a lifeline for community, self-expression and business - while navigating increasing restrictions and abuse.

An overview of women’s rights under the Taliban: erasure from public life, violence at home and online.

Many of the impersonator accounts identified by Afghan Witness repeatedly use derogatory language toward the Afghan LGBTQIA+ community and attempt to defame activists and news anchors in exile.

Afghan Witness reflects on some of the key takeaways of the project’s event on 21 November 2023 with Shaharzad Akbar, Francesca Gentile and Nina Jankowicz. How has online abuse affected Afghan women and what can be done about it?

Social media has provided a crucial platform for Afghan women since the Taliban takeover, but a new investigation by Afghan Witness reveals how those who dare to speak out are facing a torrent of abuse online. The impacts are devastating for women’s political participation – both online and off.

While the protest garnered widespread support on social media, the women involved were also targeted with a range of criticism and hate speech.