An Afghan refugee girl peers through a torn curtain at the entrance of her home at Kababayan Refugee Camp in Peshawar, Pakistan (AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad)
Since the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan nearly four years ago, thousands of Afghans who fled the country have been given protection by the United States. For Afghan men who fought alongside our own troops, life in America has meant safety from Taliban soldiers intent on seeking retribution. For Afghan women and girls, life in America has meant the opportunity to pursue an education, to work, and to move about freely, rights that the Taliban has stripped away from them in their home country. In essence, it has given them the chance to realize their dream of a better, brighter future.
Last week’s decision by the U.S. government to withdraw protected status for thousands of Afghans currently residing in the U.S. has transformed those dreams into a nightmare. Without protected status, they risk deportation back to Afghanistan where they face, at best, a life of poverty, brutal oppression, and hopelessness, and at worst, persecution, torture, even death.
In the four years of Taliban rule, the situation in Afghanistan has spiraled from bad to worse. Poverty and malnutrition rates have soared, girls have been prohibited from attending school beyond 6th Grade, and women have been barred from most jobs. The country was recently ranked next to last (above only Yemen) on the list of the worst countries to be a woman.
Making matters worse, shortly before deciding that conditions in Afghanistan no longer merited US protection, the U.S. government refused to reinstate food aid and other lifesaving assistance to Afghanistan, a decision which, no doubt, will result in even higher rates of severe malnutrition among children and women. Since the Taliban, an authoritarian government that is both bankrupt and inept, believes their people’s suffering is the will of God, these policies will, unfortunately, fall on deaf ears since there is no incentive to change. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan are also being forced home now that the Pakistan government no longer wants to bear the burden of supporting them.
Over the two decades Central Asia Institute has worked in Afghanistan, we’ve relied on the generous support of thousands of donors who care deeply not only about helping those in need, but also about providing them with an education so that they can help both themselves and their countries. When Afghanistan fell, our supporters stood by Afghan women and children, knowing them to be the least responsible but worst affected. And they stand by us today, unwavering, as CAI continues to provide education to thousands of students, primarily girls, doing what we can under the current restrictions.
We urge you to join them by voicing your opposition to U.S. policies that would condemn innocent Afghans to a life of suffering and deny food aid to starving children. This is not a zero-sum game. Turning our backs on the same Afghans that America made promises to, acknowledging that the danger we put them in was, in part, the result of our own missteps, will do little to nothing to remedy the domestic hardships the United States now faces. These policies do not make America safer or Afghanistan more stable and they do not reflect American values.
By Bella Pich
Nowruz, meaning “New Day”, is the Persian New Year celebrated on the spring equinox, marking the beginning of spring and the start of the new year in the Persian calendar. This festival, which is over 3,000 years old, has roots in Zoroastrianism, and symbolizes revival, rebirth, and hope for prosperity. Nowruz is observed by an estimated 300 million people across the globe including the countries where CAI works.
Although there are many traditions associated with Nowruz, food is a large part of the festivities. Rather than a single main dish, Nowruz features an array of foods, including the Half-sin table spread, Haft Mewa, and Sumanak, shown below.
Photo Credit: Pouya Jabbarisani
For Afghans, one of the true symbols of the New Year is a simple dish called Haft Mewa, which includes a mixture of seven different nuts and fruits. Traditionally Haft Mewa ingredients are black and yellow raisins, senjid (the dried fruit of the oleaster tree), pistachios, walnuts, almonds, and dried apricot. Not only is it delicious, but it’s an expression of hope, resilience and an unwavering belief in fresh beginnings. It’s a must have to ring in the Afghan New Year!
In Pakistan, Nowruz is celebrated by Ismaili, Shia, and some Hazara and Baloch communities. The themes of purity and rebirth are central to the celebrations, reflected in activities such as cleaning, sewing new clothes, planting trees, and decorating eggs. On the day before Nowruz, it’s common to visit the graves of relatives to honor and remember loved ones who have passed. Similar to traditions in Iran and Afghanistan, families come together to share a celebratory meal. In Pakistan, Samani is one of the featured dishes and is made from wheat. Colored eggs are also a staple food item that symbolizes each family member. At least seven dishes are served at these celebratory gatherings.
Finally, in Tajikistan, Sumanak (also known as sumalak) is a type of ritual food made from germinated wheat grains and is the most common dish served by Tajiks. Men are not allowed to partake in the ritual ceremony related to preparing the Sumanak, as it’s believed their presence would be a bad omen. The long process of Sumanak cooking usually includes singing, music, and poetry.
Meaning “festival of breaking the fast” in Arabic, Eid al-Fitr is a two-to-three-day celebration marking the end of Ramadan, one of the holiest times of the Muslim calendar, during which fasting, prayer, and reflection are heavily prioritized.
Eid al-Fitr is celebrated with special morning prayers, as well as delicious foods and gifts for one’s family or those in need. It’s also considered a time of forgiveness, where Muslims are encouraged to forgive and seek forgiveness. In countries with larger Muslim populations, Eid al-Fitr is considered a national holiday, closing schools and businesses and allowing families, neighbors, and friends able to partake in the festivities together.
Central Asia Institute wishes everyone who celebrates a joyful Nowruz and Eid al-Fitr. With the advent of spring, students across the regions we serve begin going back to school. While the festivities of the season are cause for celebration, we urge you not to forget the girls and women of Afghanistan, who are still being denied the opportunity to pursue their education past grade 6. We hope you, like CAI, remain steadfast in your support for them.
Central Asia Institute
Sources:
Afghan Culture Unveiled. (n.d.). Nowruz. Afghan Culture Unveiled. Retrieved from https://www.afghancultureunveiled.com/humaira-ghilzai/tag/Nowruz
BBC Newsround. (2023, March 30). Eid al-Fitr: What is it and why is it celebrated?. BBC Newsround. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/68761299
Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF). (n.d.). What is Eid al-Fitr? PCRF. Retrieved from https://www.pcrf.net/information-you-should-know/what-is-eid-al-fitr.html
The Independent. (2022, March 19). Happy Nowruz: Five traditional foods to eat to celebrate Persian New Year 2022. Retrieved from https://www.the-independent.com/life-style/food-and-drink/nowruz-2022-food-iranian-recipes-b2038862.html
Travel Pakistani. (n.d.). Nowruz Festival in Pakistan – All you need to know. Retrieved from https://travelpakistani.com/blogs/nowruz-festival-in-pakistan—all-you-need-to-know/76
University of Central Asia. (n.d.). National Festivals of the Tajiks Through the Ages. Retrieved from https://ucentralasia.org/media/s22fgoai/chhu-rp-4-eng.pdf
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