Afghan women writers 'want their voices heard'

Parwana Fayyaz has been translating the work of women writers from their native tongues in Afghanistan

An academic who helped translate the words of Afghan women writers said the work was "dangerous" but the women want the world to know the "value of their voice".

Kabul-born Parwana Fayyaz, a Cambridge University Persian literature scholar, helped translate a collective diary written by 21 women writers during the fall of Kabul.

In August 2021, Afghanistan's capital city was captured by the Taliban, during which time the women kept in touch via a WhatsApp group.

Dr Fayyaz said her work translating the women's words, which were posted on the group in their native tongues, helped her to feel closer to the city.

"Kabul is a beautiful city and I love it, but at the same time it's terrifying, a dangerous city - especially for women," she said.

Dr Fayyaz said she felt love and fear for the country, "and that's exactly the sense you get from the book".

'Constantly moving'

Before Kabul fell three years ago, she said many of the women had office jobs and could publish their own work, but "all of a sudden things are changing".

Dr Fayyaz said most of the women writers were "constantly moving" within Afghanistan or had left the country altogether.

One of the writers, Zainab, wrote about being a traveller and understanding that "you cannot take everything with you".

Dr Fayyaz said: "We are doing everything we can to keep our writers safe, but at the same time they want their voices heard."

She said the book, called My Dear Kabul, was a joint effort of the writers, editors and translators involved.

"I hope the world honours them by reading their stories," she said.