The most significant power lies in the hands of photojournalists and documentary photographers. Their devotion and commitment to their vocation are paramount in comprehending society’s division. Sometimes, their stories expose the collective wrongs. Other times, their narratives are urgent cries for help by those in need. For instance, Afghan women and their predicament since the Taliban’s usurpation in 2021, a pressing subject that won the Carmignac Photojournalism Award.
The lead image is by Kiana Hayeri, courtesy of the Carmignac Photojournalism Award.
The 14th edition of the award, one of the prestigious prizes for photojournalists, has been bestowed on Canadian-Iranian photojournalist Kiana Hayeri and French researcher Mélissa Cornet for their heart-wrenching series No Women’s Land. The project, produced over the last six months (with the support of the Fondation Carmignac), unveils the stark truth of the Taliban’s inhumane treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan.
To give you a recap, two years ago, the United States withdrew its armed forces from Afghan soil, leaving behind a chasm that ruined millions of lives. While men enjoy some liberties, women are disproportionately shunned from society. As per UN Women, the Taliban has administered 80 mandates since they took control, but of those, 54 are directly targeting women’s liberation and privileges. Within hours of their ascendence, posters featuring women were torn and defaced, and families locked their wives, sisters, mothers, and daughters to avoid penalty. A few days later, schools and colleges for women and girls were locked, while those who had jobs had to quit. More and more regressive edicts became the norm: women and girls can’t show skin in public, leave the confines of their homes without a male chaperone, can’t be involved in politics or speaking publicly, or even go to public baths and salons. There are numerous examples, as they are grievous and alarming.
But despite the challenges, Kiana and Mélissa journeyed to seven regions in Afghanistan, analyzing and investigating the constraints levied on the opposite sex. The duo spoke to over 100 women and girls who are now forced to stay home. Taliban’s regime is ruthless, as it endangers women journalists and activists speaking against human rights abuse. The individuals of LGBTQI+ communities, too, face a threat, as their identity could lead to a death sentence. Thus, Kiana and Mélissa’s meticulous documentation becomes more vital as the Taliban’s forces remain unchallenged by global superpowers. A deeply broken system fraught with patriarchal and barbaric ordinances, Afghanistan is an echo of its once glorious past. Women who had higher degrees and careers are now propelled to be exterminated from society.
In addition to powerful images, Kiana and Mélissa’s sensitive portrayal includes sketches, videos, and artworks collected from Afghan teenage girls in a collaborative project. One sees a sense of hopelessness in the pictures, with their report stating that women no longer have confidence that their circumstances will transform. Much of it is due to the collapse of health facilities, the dwindling economy, and food scarcity, which have direct implications for women’s and girls’ well-being. Since the Taliban is now the justice system, women will be persecuted even when they are the survivors, such as in cases of rape or sexual assault. A women’s rights activist, who has since left the country, expresses, “We have forgotten joy; we don’t know where any can be found. I’ve lost all motivation. I cry alone, hidden. It’s as if someone has locked me in a room and won’t let me outside. Even food has no taste.”
While some have been lucky enough to immigrate, others have been forced to return: Afghans in Pakistan. Last November, Pakistan expelled over a million Afghan refugees who do not have appropriate documentation despite residing and working in the country for decades. Although the government is ready to wait another year (2025) before another forced expulsion, there is scant optimism that the circumstances will change. Considering the trauma and hardships of Afghans, Kiana and Mélissa’s courageous documentation compels us to protest for the liberation of Afghani women and girls. The situation there has transcended from exclusively a women’s rights issue to a persistent reflection of our collective humanity and values.
No Woman’s Land, the winner of the Carmignac Photojournalism Award, will be unveiled at the Visa pour l’Image festival on September 5, 2024, at 9 pm (CEST), followed by a talk on September 6 at noon (CEST).