In northwest Pakistan, an Afghan woman forced into exile gave Fazal Sheikh a passionate manifesto on the rights of women, “Our Plight.”

“There has been much discussion about how Afghan women have been treated, how they have been abused, tortured and killed. But these discussions, which take place both inside and outside Afghanistan, have done little to solve our lack of basic human rights. Many Afghan women look to the West in the name of freedom and expect people in the West to promote our rights. But in the West they neither consult us about the issues that affect our daily lives, nor do they uphold or promote on our behalf the standards by which they themselves live."

“History has taught us that a bright future is nothing but a mirage for Afghan women. The reality is tears, chained hands and silenced mouths. Afghan mothers who have brought up brave sons and husbands are generous, loving people but they have never succeeded in obtaining their independence. All our hopes have been consigned to the dustbin of history.”

Listen to Fazal Sheikh read the full text