There’s something I need to clear up, as I am tired of constantly hearing it from individuals who know very little about Afghanistan and yet have so much to say: To those who claim that girls not going to school and the oppression of women are part of “our culture” in Afghanistan: This is not our culture. This is not who we are. For hundreds of years, women from Afghanistan have been leaders, poets, and scholars, shaping our region’s history and culture with their strength and wisdom. The Taliban’s bans are a weapon of control and a symbol of extremism, not a reflection of our history or values. We must stop normalising this oppression. Afghanistan’s women and girls deserve education, freedom, and dignity — just like anyone else. #StandWithAfghanWomen #WomenDeserveBetter #NotOurCulture #FreeAfghanistan #LetAfghanGirlsLearn #AfghanWomenLeaders #HerStoryMatters