Forbes: Afghan Women at Risk of Forced Return to Afghanistan

In the article, published on Sunday, April 13, Ochab wrote that many Afghan women who are living abroad on educational scholarships are at risk of deportation.

She warned that the suspension of financial aid and the halt in visa issuance have paved the way for the forced return of these women to Afghanistan.

The article notes that in January of this year alone, the United States canceled the travel of 1,660 Afghan asylum seekers, many of whom are women.

It also refers to the situation of more than 80 Afghan women studying in Oman under the “WSE” program, whose scholarships are on the verge of being revoked. According to the U.S. State Department, funding for these scholarships will end on June 30, 2025.

Ochab stressed that women in Afghanistan are deprived of education, work, travel, and access to public spaces, and that this situation must be recognized as “gender apartheid.”

She called on the international community to cut diplomatic and economic ties with the Taliban and to take immediate action to support Afghan women.