28 million people live in Afghanistan. It is a country of high mountains that are snow-capped all year round, deep valleys, forests, and large deserts. The summers are hot, with temperatures over 40 degrees. In the winter they sink to minus 20, with snowstorms and ice. The most common crops are rice, potatoes, pomegranates, mangoes, and watermelons. There are many rare wild animals, like bears, eagles, gazelles, and snow leopards. The people keep sheep and cows as livestock, and horses, donkeys, and camels as pack animals or for riding.

Afghanistan is a beautiful country but it is also the world’s most dangerous country for girls and women. Some 638 women die per 100,000 live births. Nearly 4 out of 10 girls are married off before they are 18. Only 15 percent of adult women can read and write, nearly 10 percent are forced to marry before the age of 15.

War during many decades

The Afghan people have suffered through war and terror for the past four decades, experiencing civil war, foreign invasion, insurgency, and oppressive Taliban rule from 1997–2001. The Taliban is an Islamist fundamentalist movement and during their previous time in power, they made it illegal for women to work and for girls to go to school. They banned everything from dancing and listening to popular music to kite flying and watching TV. Girls and women were not allowed to walk outside unless they had a male companion. had to be completely covered when they walked outside the home risked violent attack and even death.

In 2001, a U.S.-led invasion led to the Taliban withdrawing but now, in August 2201. the Taliban have come back into power. Their leadership has said that they will now let girls go to school and that women and girls will be allowed to be active in society, work, and study. However, they add that this will only be “within the bounds of Islamic law.” And because the Taliban is a fundamentalist movement with very strict interpretations of Islam, no one really knows how girls and women will be treated in the long run.