The Taliban Death Threats Hounding This Afghan Woman
Marzieh Hamidi, a 21-year-old Afghan taekwondo champion, has been receiving death threats since she criticized Afghanistan’s national cricket team for “normalizing the Taliban.” The threats have been relentless, with over 5,000 calls and messages bombarding her phone, including explicit threats of murder and rape.
Hamidi, who now lives under police protection in Paris, has become a champion for equal rights for Afghan women. She has launched the #LetUsExist campaign to highlight the gender apartheid in Afghanistan, where women are not allowed to participate fully in society.
The Taliban’s repression against women has evolved with the use of technology, making it easier for them to track and intimidate women abroad. Despite the threats, Hamidi remains defiant and continues to fight for her rights and those of her fellow Afghan women.
An investigation into the threats has been launched by France’s specialist agency for hate crime and crimes against humanity. Hamidi’s lawyer, Ines Davau, is working to show the coordination behind the campaign of hate.
