Fleeing the Taliban to pursue a university education

Farhat Kohistani fled her home in Kabul after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021.  She had been attending the American University of Afghanistan and her ethnicity and advocacy for women’s rights made her a prime target for the new regime.

Farhat’s family is from the Tajik ethnic group – a minority historically persecuted by the Taliban. Her family comes from the Kohistan region in Northern Afghanistan, a district that was on the front line of the war against the Taliban.

Under Taliban rule, female human rights defenders from minority groups have faced kidnapping, arbitrary arrest and torture and threats of violence against their family members. Women have been excluded from all public roles and girls no longer receive an education beyond primary school.

“I was born on the last day of Taliban rule in Afghanistan in 2000, so my parents named me Farhat, which means happiness and good news,” she says.

“When I was growing up, things were good in Kabul, and I got an education and won a scholarship to university. But I could see that girls across the country were struggling. It wasn't safe.”

Farhat lost two friends during an attack on Kabul University in November 2020. Three gunmen stormed the campus, detonating explosives and firing at staff and students, killing 22 people.

“I was on the way to university that day and I called my mother three times to say goodbye… I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to make it home,” Farhat says.

“I came home crying, but my dad said, listen, you need to get ready and go back to university again tomorrow. He said I should go back to show them that we weren’t afraid.”

Searching for safety

However, as the Taliban took control of the regions and advanced on Kabul, her family urged her to flee the country. 

Supporting Afghan girl's right to education.

Farhat left with a single suitcase, making her way alone to Dubai and then on to Australia with the help of the Addison Road Community Centre.

The non-government organisation helped Farhat re-establish herself in Sydney, where she won a scholarship to Barker College, juggling study with her advocacy work. 

She is now undertaking a foundation course at ACU’s Blacktown Campus before embarking on a Bachelor of Arts (Politics and International Relations) next year.

“It’s been two and a half years that I'm away from my country and my family to chase my dreams and try to start my education again here in Australia – and I don’t take any of it for granted,” she said.

“I make sure I share my experience with my classmates, but many young people don’t know where Afghanistan is, or what the Taliban is. I feel the need to speak up and tell the world what's happening.

“Here in Australia, we take the peace and food and the opportunity of education for granted. But back in Afghanistan, the university doors are closed. Girls cannot wear what they choose, go to school, go to university. For many of the girls and women in Afghanistan, there is no way out.

“I wanted to do a degree in international relations to be voice for others and help the women who don’t have their rights.

“Coming to ACU is the next chapter of my life.”

Farhat’s story can be seen in the short film, Die or Die Trying: Escaping the Taliban.

Learn more about our Foundation Studies program or the Bachelor of Arts (Politics and International Relations).