Roula Merhej on Afghan women expelled to a country they never inhabited

Roula Merhej, a journalist, investigates the plight of Afghan women forced to return to an unfamiliar Afghanistan from Iran and Pakistan. According to the UNHCR, nearly 3 million Afghans, including half who are women and children, are expected to be 'repatriated' by 2026. Many of these individuals communicate in Persian or Urdu rather than Dari. On March 12, 2025, Iran revoked temporary protection for 2.6 million Afghans, stripping them of access to education, healthcare, and employment. Following the Iran-Israel conflict in June 2025, expulsions escalated, with over 256,000 Afghans sent back. A report from UN Women in June 2025 revealed that 78% of young Afghan women are without education or jobs. The Taliban's penal code, enacted on February 26, 2026, legalized domestic violence, while a decree on May 14, 2026, permitted child marriage. In July 2025, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Taliban leaders. Since 2024, Germany has resumed deportations, and European nations have reestablished diplomatic relations with the Taliban. Despite the EU providing €1.2 billion in humanitarian aid since 2021, legal protections for women remain insufficient. Merhej contends that women's rights are often sidelined in geopolitical discussions.