HHoda Koda Khamhamoshosh
Standing strong
B Y K A R L V I C KB Y K A R L V I C K
WWhen the U.S. first went to war in Afghani-hen the U.S. first went to war in Afghani-
stan, its womstan, its women and girls—en and girls—barred frombarred from
school, forced under burqas, and confined school, forced under burqas, and confined
to homto home by the ruling Taliban—e by the ruling Taliban—were a jus-were a jus-
tification. Since the U.S. withdrew, they tification. Since the U.S. withdrew, they
are an inconvenient truth. Hoda Khamare an inconvenient truth. Hoda Khamosh osh
exemexemplifies the generation that grew up plifies the generation that grew up
in the interregnumin the interregnum, living evidence that , living evidence that
if an occupying power cannot build a na-if an occupying power cannot build a na-
tion, it can at least nurture the citizens who tion, it can at least nurture the citizens who
would. Before the Taliban returned, Khamwould. Before the Taliban returned, Kham--
osh visited schools to promosh visited schools to promote emote empower-power-
mment and broke taboos around woment and broke taboos around women’s en’s
health issues. She wrote poetry, and spoke health issues. She wrote poetry, and spoke
of running for President. After Kabul fell, of running for President. After Kabul fell,
KhamKhamosh risked arrest amosh risked arrest among the mong the many any
brave wombrave women publicly demen publicly demanding their anding their
rights. She was invited to be part of a group rights. She was invited to be part of a group
of womof women activists to take part in a con-en activists to take part in a con-
ference in Oslo with the Taliban. She used ference in Oslo with the Taliban. She used
the opportunity to tell the Taliban Foreign the opportunity to tell the Taliban Foreign
MMinister to order the release of two de-inister to order the release of two de-
tained colleagues. “I feel their pain with tained colleagues. “I feel their pain with
mmy bones thousands of kilomy bones thousands of kilometers away,” eters away,”
she said, “and hear their groaning under she said, “and hear their groaning under
the torture of the Taliban.” Aware that her the torture of the Taliban.” Aware that her
actions would likely prevent returning actions would likely prevent returning
safely to Afghanistan, Khamsafely to Afghanistan, Khamosh used her osh used her
voice and opportunity to namvoice and opportunity to name the plight of e the plight of
those who don’t have either. those who don’t have either.
Vick is a TIMVick is a TIME editor at largeE editor at large KHAMOSH: MOHD RASFAN—AFP/GETTY IMAGES; MURATOV: DINA LITOVSKY FOR TIME
94 Time June 6/June 13, 2022 PHOTOGRAPH BY DEVIN YALKIN