Escape To Freedom

    The Taliban’s history in Afghanistan began long before Rahima was born. In 1996, the group took control of Afghanistan for the first time. 

    Taliban members follow an extreme form of the religion Islam. Under their control, Afghan people were forced to follow strict rules. 

    What were those rules like? Most music, television, and movies were banned. Women were not allowed to go to school or work outside the home. People who broke the rules could be whipped or even killed.

    Then, on September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the United States. Nearly 3,000 Americans died. 

    U.S. officials learned that the terrorists had trained in Afghanistan. So in October, American troops invaded Afghanistan. By mid-November, they had forced the Taliban from power.

    The Taliban has been around for a long time. In 1996, the group took control of Afghanistan for the first time. 

    Taliban members follow an extreme form of the religion Islam. They forced people in Afghanistan to follow strict rules. 

    What were those rules? Most music, TV, and movies were banned. Women were not allowed to go to school. They could not work outside the home. People who broke the rules could be whipped. They might be killed.

    Then, on September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the United States. Nearly 3,000 Americans died. 

    The terrorists had trained in Afghanistan. So in October 2001, American troops invaded Afghanistan. By mid-November, they had forced the Taliban from power.

    The Taliban’s history in Afghanistan began before Rahima was born. In 1996, the group took control of the country for the first time. 

    Taliban members follow an extreme form of the religion Islam. After they gained control of Afghanistan, they forced Afghans to follow strict rules. 

    Most music, television, and movies were banned, and women were forbidden from going to school or working outside the home. People who broke the rules might be whipped or even killed.

    Then, on September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the United States. Nearly 3,000 Americans died. 

    U.S. officials learned that the terrorists had trained in Afghanistan—so in October, American troops invaded Afghanistan. By mid-November, they had forced the Taliban from power.

    With help from American troops, a new government took over. Afghanistan began to change. Women gained more freedom. Rahima went to a school with American teachers. Her mother worked as a doctor.

    But the Taliban had not left for good. For 20 years, they fought to regain power in Afghanistan. More than 2,400 American soldiers died in the fighting. Tens of thousands of Afghans were killed. Finally, the U.S. decided to bring all its troops home last year.

    In August, as American soldiers left, the Taliban took over once again. Rahima grew scared. She had heard that Taliban fighters forced young girls to be their wives.

    “I was telling my brother, ‘If they come, tell them you don’t have a sister,’” Rahima says. “I was thinking: Where would I go hide to save myself?” 

    American troops helped a new government take over. Afghanistan began to change. Women gained more freedom. Rahima went to school. Her mother worked as a doctor.

    But the Taliban were not gone. They kept fighting to regain power in Afghanistan. More than 2,400 American soldiers died in the fighting. Tens of thousands of Afghans were killed. After 20 years, the U.S. brought all its troops home. That was last year.

    In August 2021, the Taliban took over once again. Rahima was scared. She had heard that Taliban fighters forced young girls to be their wives.

    “Where would I go hide to save myself?” she thought.

    With help from American troops, a new government took over. Afghanistan began to change, with women gaining more freedoms. Rahima went to a school that had American teachers, and her mother worked as a doctor.

    The Taliban were no longer in control, but they weren’t gone either. For 20 years, they fought to regain power. More than 2,400 American soldiers, as well as tens of thousands of Afghans, were killed in the fighting. Finally, last year, the U.S. ordered its troops home.

    In August, as American soldiers were departing, the Taliban rose to power again. Rahima had heard that Taliban fighters forced young girls to be their wives, and the thought frightened her.

    “I was telling my brother, ‘If they come, tell them you don’t have a sister,’” Rahima recalls. “I was thinking: Where would I go hide to save myself?” 

    Rahima knew her family had to leave. She had help from the teachers at her school. But still, it seemed like her family wouldn’t make it. Several times they went to the airport. Each time, they were turned away. On August 26, a bomb killed more than 170 people at the airport. Rahima was so nervous that she stopped eating.

    Finally, on August 30, the family was down to their last chance. They made their way through the crowd at the airport. Somehow, they found the American soldiers who were looking for them. 

    In a few hours, Rahima and her family were on a plane. She had nothing but her phone and a bottle of water, but she didn’t care. She was a refugee—headed for a new life in America. 

    With help from a church in Tulsa, Rahima and her family are making a new home in Oklahoma. For that, Rahima feels lucky. More than 120,000 Afghans escaped the country. But countless more were left behind. 

    Rahima wants to become a doctor like her mom. (Sadly, her mom died of cancer in 2020.) She’s thankful to now have the chance. “I want to help people,” she says, “just like the people who helped me.” 

    Rahima knew her family had to leave. Her teachers helped them. Her family kept going to the airport. Each time, they were turned away. On August 26, a bomb went off at the airport. It killed more than 170 people. Rahima was very nervous. She stopped eating.

    On August 30, the family was down to their last chance. They were in the airport. They made their way through the crowd. Somehow, they found the American soldiers who were going to help them. 

    Soon, the family was on a plane. Rahima had nothing but her phone and a bottle of water. But she didn’t care. She was a refugee headed for a new life in America. 

    A church in Tulsa helped Rahima and her family make a new home in Oklahoma. Rahima feels lucky. More than 120,000 Afghans escaped the country. But many others were left behind. 

    Rahima wants to become a doctor like her mom. (Sadly, her mom died of cancer in 2020.) She now has the chance. She’s thankful. “I want to help people,” she says, “just like the people who helped me.” 

    Rahima knew her family had to leave—but even with help from teachers at her school, it seemed nearly impossible. Several times they were turned away from the airport. And after a bomb killed more than 170 people at the airport on August 26, Rahima became so nervous that she stopped eating.

    Finally, on August 30, the family was facing their last chance. They worked their way through the crowd at the airport and—amazingly—found the American soldiers who were looking for them. 

    In a few hours, Rahima and her family were on a plane. She had only her phone and a bottle of water, but she didn’t care. She was a refugee—about to start a new life in America. 

    With help from a church in Tulsa, Rahima and her family are making a new home in Oklahoma. For that, Rahima feels lucky. More than 120,000 Afghans escaped the country, but countless others were left behind. 

    Rahima plans on becoming a doctor, like her mother. (Sadly, her mother died of cancer in 2020.) She’s thankful to now have the chance. “I want to help people,” she explains, “just like the people who helped me.” •