Afghanistan Woman Living in Cobourg Hopes Her Brother Is Safe – But for How Long

A woman from Afghanistan who resides in Cobourg with her husband is hoping her relatives will be able to safely leave her home country.

The woman is 39-years-old and her husband is 47-years old.  They both reside in Cobourg with their five children ages 2-20-years-old.

She has asked Today’s Northumberland not to use her name for the safety of her relatives including her brother who is 24-years-old and her niece who is 22-years-old.  Both of whom are still in Afghanistan.

Speaking through a translator at a friends home in Cobourg on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, the woman said her brother is in danger because he’s worked for the Afghanistan Army alongside Canadian and American soldiers.

He’s currently in hiding in Kabul making sure he doesn’t step out because they are looking for him and others who worked in the army against the Taliban regime.

Her brother was very much in support of the Canadian and US army on his Facebook. But since Afghanistan has fallen back into the Taliban regime, if they find him they would likely kill him.

Her niece has worked on woman’s rights in Afghanistan and again is in danger.

“They want to get out of the country as soon as possible,” said the woman.

Watching news reports from Afghanistan, the woman said it seems impossible to get out of the country.

“The Taliban is literally going door to door asking who has worked where and what are they doing at the moment.”

“People know where he worked.  So he could easily have people telling on him and also on his niece who works in the same area.”

The husband and wife both told Today’s Northumberland horror stories of the Taliban when they were living in Afghanistan.

Just days ago she was on the phone with her sister and heard a lot of screaming and yelling in the background.  When she asked what happened, her sister told her that a neighbour was taken away because they found out they worked in the army.

“If they find out the person giving the answer is not truthful, they are also in trouble.”

Now that Canadian troops have left and American troops will be leaving shortly, the fear of the Taliban has quickly taken over the cities including Kabul where her brother is for now.

Canada has said they would welcome Afghan refugees focusing on women, girls, LGBTQI, human rights defenders and religious minorities.

Her brother has fought against the Taliban in the Province of Kunduz had clashes with Taliban.

Last time her brother spoke to her just days ago, he was apologizing for all the trouble he’s caused for her in Canada.

The woman is appealing to the Canadian government to do everything they can to get her relatives out of Afghanistan as soon as possible.

Since there is little trust in Afghanistan for fear of the Taliban, her brother constantly moving.

“Because of the Taliban regime their neighbours could tell on them so they are in hiding.”

“They are constantly moving from house to house so the Taliban won’t know where they are.”

The woman and her family have been lived in Canada for 20-years and own a successful business, but they are not versed on the immigration laws.

The last time she was in her home country was in 2016 for a wedding.

“I would have never thought in my dreams that it would come to this point.  It may or may not have been completely safe, but women were outside, having their education, they had the right to enjoy their lives.  It was peaceful as opposed to now.”

Since the coalition forces have left the majority of the country her brother told her it quickly changed.

“It’s definitely put the country in a situation where it’s everyone for themselves.  But not every single person is in dire threat.  There is people specifically that the Taliban has called out for that if they find these people they will behead them.”

“Those people specifically are people who have worked with women, people in the army, people have worked for basically anything that doesn’t align with their (Taliban) beliefs.”

In fact the reason why she and her husband left Afghanistan in 2001 was to raise her family in a country that strives for peace. 

“We weren’t actually escaping, but ever since I was in Afghanistan there has never been peace.”

“When I got married, I wanted to have a better future and a better education.  When I had my first son I was constantly thinking about sending him to school and not worry about what was going to happen to him next or his safety.”

Until her relatives are safe out of Afghanistan the woman said she’s had very little sleep.  But even with the uncertain future of her brother and niece, she doesn’t blame Canada.

“The way the regime has taken over Afghanistan so swiftly and so fast, no one could have seen it coming.”

“I don’t think Canada could have prepared a plan fast enough.”

Calling Canada, “heaven on earth” she feels “so safe and privileged to be here.”

The family is extremely grateful for the support and help from her friends in Cobourg.

She hopes for the safety of her relatives – but even if/when she hears they are safe, she will always be hurting for the people of Afghanistan.

The father also has concerns for his own sister, who is in danger with the Taliban for a similar situation. She is a married woman, who was being beaten daily, by her husband because she went to the courts asking for a divorce.

As her husband has the same belief system as the Taliban, she is a target of death threats because of sharia law.