I was once talking to an Afghan man about living in Europe and America, about the advantages and disadvantages. Very unexpectedly, he said something which surprised me. He said, “I would never choose to live in a foreign country together with my wife because I’d lose all control over her.”

Marina Zaffari talks about her search for her identity as a woman and a wife in Afghanistan.

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Crisis and conflict in Afghanistan often overshadows the innumerable achievements of men and women, who are striving to promote art and culture in their country. Until some time back, girls were not allowed to pick up a pen and write a single word, but now they hold painting brushes and use their imagination to express their feelings.

Marina Zaffari profiles some promising women artists from her country.

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“I shudder each time when I hear of the Taliban’s heinous activities. Malala Yousufzai’s story reminds me of the thousand crimes this extremist and ferocious group has perpetrated. None of these have any justification.” Marina Zaffari on the Taliban and the women of Afghanistan.

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When you interview university students in Afghanistan, you can hardly find anyone who denies sexual harassment in the universities there. Professors teaching at the university are largely responsible for this abuse. You could get full marks or no marks in your exams; it simply depends on how you behave with them. Beautiful and stylish young girls are easy prey.

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Marina Zaffari is a well-known face in Afghan television. Like any other intelligent woman, Zaffari was fed up of seeing the typical ‘pretty’ presenter in a political talk show, nodding at her male colleagues and saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as the situation demanded.  She opted for a different track.

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Women love to express themselves and how! We found some very interesting blogs by women and on women’s issues, on topics ranging from fitness, relationships and literature to art and yoga. Here’s a short list.

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Who is a feminist? Are feminists groups of women fighting to change the world order, organizing a coup d’état to overthrow the “regime” of men? Are feminists women who organize rallies and scream slogans around the street?

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