A Woman Revitalized the Streets of Her Hometown by Selling Her Gold

She stated that the purpose of her action was to save the people of her hometown from respiratory diseases caused by dust, and she says she is working to build a hall for the people of this village by selling one more kilogram of gold and some other cash. “I sold half a kilogram of gold and I also had thirty thousand dollars. I thought this money shouldn’t be lost, so I cemented all the alleys of my village, because I saw people, young and old, buried under dirt and dust. If God wills, I have another kilogram of gold and I will build a hall here.”

Ahu Bashiri, 70, says that she left Zahkan village due to insecurity during the previous Taliban regime and moved to Herat province. However, after nearly thirty years, she has now returned to her village to help her people. “Thirty years ago, my husband passed away. I saw there was no other way, so I took my orphaned children and went to Herat. Gradually, my sons began working, and this money and gold are from them—they gave it to me. Now, I am donating my share to the people, because I am ill and may not survive.”

However, Ezzatullah Bashiri, who is himself one of the businessmen of Farah province, says that his mother has also provided solar power for the residents of this village, which now lights up the dark alleys at night. He adds that more than 150 solar panels have been installed in the village with the help of his generous mother.

On the other hand, the residents of Zahkan village have welcomed Ahu Bashiri’s support and are calling on the Taliban to take action in the areas of healthcare and establishing schools, especially for girls.

Younis, one of the villagers, says: “The most important need in this village is for our daughters to be educated. We are very happy with this mother’s work, but we ask the government to allow our daughters to study so that generous women like her can build schools and learning centers for them.”

Nevertheless, the Taliban have described Ms. Bashiri’s initiative as important and impactful, emphasizing the need for public cooperation with their single-gender government.

Hayatullah Muhajir Farahi, the Deputy Minister of Publications at the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture, stated: “Men and women must stand alongside the government and the Islamic Emirate, because without the people, the state cannot progress. Traders must also take part in the development of the country.”

Ahu Bashiri has undertaken the reconstruction of her village at a time when thousands of women and girls, due to economic difficulties and the Taliban's restrictions on women working outside the home, have been forced into begging or even sex work.