Behind barbed wire and steel gates perched on a hill in Kabul lies the women's wing of the Afghan Red Crescent Society's (ARCS) mental health facility, an institution that few in the local community acknowledge. Known informally as Qala or the fortress, it stands as one of the very few centers in Afghanistan providing assistance to women dealing with mental health issues.
The facility is currently overwhelmed, housing 104 women, many of whom have been admitted under distressing circumstances. Among them is Mariam*, a woman in her mid-20s who has lived at Qala for nine years. She recounts a harrowing story of abuse and neglect from her family, leading to homelessness, before eventually being brought to the center by a stranger concerned for her safety. Despite her radiant spirit and readiness to leave, she is unable to do so—she has nowhere to go.
“I don’t expect to return to my father and mother,” Mariam states. “I want to marry someone here in Kabul, because if I go home, they’ll just abandon me again.”
Like many women in Afghanistan, Mariam’s predicament reflects the strict and oppressive realities imposed by the Taliban regime, which mandates that women rely upon male guardians for independence. This inability to live autonomously is exacerbated by the absence of economic opportunities, trapping many women in a cycle of dependence on abusive male relatives.
Habiba, 28, also finds herself in a similar plight, brought to the center by her husband after he remarried. With her children living with relatives and lacking any support from her family, she expresses a deep yearning to reunite with her sons and escape her confinement.
“I want to be reunited with my children,” she expresses, highlighting the devastating impact of familial separation.
The harsh reality for women inside Qala is further underscored by the alarming mental health statistics emerging from a recent UN report, revealing that 68% of surveyed women reported suffering from poor mental health—an outcome influenced by the Taliban's intensifying restrictions on women’s rights.
Dr. Abdul Wali Utmanzai, a senior psychiatrist at a neighboring facility, observes that the mental health crisis in women has escalated dramatically; the center’s patient load has surged, leading to a waiting list for new admissions—a stark reminder of the urgent need for mental health services amid societal turmoil.
Zainab, a 16-year-old girl brought to the center after lengthy attempts by her family to secure her a place, highlights the distressing conditions facing women and girls in Afghanistan. After suffering multiple traumas, including being caught in a bombing, her behavior has deteriorated to the point where she was restrained at home for fear of honor being compromised by her actions.
While the Taliban government maintains that it is committed to women's rights, the reality painted in the mental health facility starkly contrasts this narrative. The persistence of gender inequality only serves to deepen the crises women face on every front—in health, safety, and societal acceptance.
As those like Mariam and Habiba remain trapped within the confines of Qala, their futures remain uncertain, and the silence surrounding their plight resonates loudly against the backdrop of a nation in turmoil.
(*Names changed for confidentiality)
The facility is currently overwhelmed, housing 104 women, many of whom have been admitted under distressing circumstances. Among them is Mariam*, a woman in her mid-20s who has lived at Qala for nine years. She recounts a harrowing story of abuse and neglect from her family, leading to homelessness, before eventually being brought to the center by a stranger concerned for her safety. Despite her radiant spirit and readiness to leave, she is unable to do so—she has nowhere to go.
“I don’t expect to return to my father and mother,” Mariam states. “I want to marry someone here in Kabul, because if I go home, they’ll just abandon me again.”
Like many women in Afghanistan, Mariam’s predicament reflects the strict and oppressive realities imposed by the Taliban regime, which mandates that women rely upon male guardians for independence. This inability to live autonomously is exacerbated by the absence of economic opportunities, trapping many women in a cycle of dependence on abusive male relatives.
Habiba, 28, also finds herself in a similar plight, brought to the center by her husband after he remarried. With her children living with relatives and lacking any support from her family, she expresses a deep yearning to reunite with her sons and escape her confinement.
“I want to be reunited with my children,” she expresses, highlighting the devastating impact of familial separation.
The harsh reality for women inside Qala is further underscored by the alarming mental health statistics emerging from a recent UN report, revealing that 68% of surveyed women reported suffering from poor mental health—an outcome influenced by the Taliban's intensifying restrictions on women’s rights.
Dr. Abdul Wali Utmanzai, a senior psychiatrist at a neighboring facility, observes that the mental health crisis in women has escalated dramatically; the center’s patient load has surged, leading to a waiting list for new admissions—a stark reminder of the urgent need for mental health services amid societal turmoil.
Zainab, a 16-year-old girl brought to the center after lengthy attempts by her family to secure her a place, highlights the distressing conditions facing women and girls in Afghanistan. After suffering multiple traumas, including being caught in a bombing, her behavior has deteriorated to the point where she was restrained at home for fear of honor being compromised by her actions.
While the Taliban government maintains that it is committed to women's rights, the reality painted in the mental health facility starkly contrasts this narrative. The persistence of gender inequality only serves to deepen the crises women face on every front—in health, safety, and societal acceptance.
As those like Mariam and Habiba remain trapped within the confines of Qala, their futures remain uncertain, and the silence surrounding their plight resonates loudly against the backdrop of a nation in turmoil.
(*Names changed for confidentiality)
