In the Badakhshan province in northern Afghanistan, young women conceal vibrant clothing and jewelry under black cloths and organize secret sessions to preserve their identity amid Taliban authority.
When Colors Become an Act of Resistance
According to reports published by El País, Afghan women have developed internal practices to sustain a culture threatened by restrictions imposed since 2021 following the return of the Taliban regime. In Badakhshan, where religious norms have been strictly enforced, many young women keep brightly colored garments hidden beneath black shawls or tucked into concealed pockets.
This is not merely an aesthetic choice: colors are symbols of cultural identity and belonging. Women explain that wearing colorful clothing represents a form of resistance against the imposition of religious uniforms that restrict their personal and social freedoms.
Clandestine Classes to Preserve Knowledge
Beyond clothing, young women organize secret gatherings where they teach reading, mathematics, or artistic skills to other women. These sessions receive no official authorization and are unrecorded in any institutional system; they take place in private spaces such as family homes or abandoned warehouses.
No there is available evidence on how many people are involved or how these activities are being monitored by the Taliban regime. However, accounts collected by El País indicate that this practice is common among groups of young women who live under constant surveillance and have limited access to media.
Sources and context
The information presented is derived exclusively from an article published in El País on November 14, 2026. There are no independent confirmations or official sources that validate the scope or specific details. The content does not include data regarding violence, arrests, or direct government responses related to these activities.
Statements attributed to women are based on testimonies collected by local media and cited in the original article. No political or evaluative interpretation has been made; only factual accounts narrated as part of the available report are reported.