Life Under the Taliban: Women’s Rights, Culture, and Courage with Anita Omary

On the fourth anniversary of Taliban returning to power in Afghanistan, Mehran, host of Immigrant Conversations podcast, speaks with Anita Omary, an Afghan advocate who came to the U.S. just two years ago with a mission to fight for women’s rights.

Anita offers a rare and personal perspective on:

• What women’s rights looked like in Afghanistan before and after the Taliban takeover
• Why the support of fathers and brothers is so critical in a patriarchal society
• How culture is shifting as global connections reshape even the most traditional communities
• The heartbreaking story of Halima, a woman Anita knew—forced into marriage with a Taliban fighter, abused, and ultimately killed

This is a raw, moving conversation about loss, resilience, and the fight for justice that continues far from the spotlight.

Bio:

Anita Omary is an Afghan storyteller, public speaker, and Master of Public Administration student at the University of New Haven. Originally from Afghanistan, Anita came to the United States in 2023 after years of working with non-governmental organizations supporting refugee communities. Her lived experience of forced displacement informs her current work, where she advocates for refugee and immigrant rights, women's empowerment, and inclusive policy. Anita is a speaker with the New American Speaker Program and is currently writing a collection of true stories exploring the complex relationships between Afghan fathers and daughters under patriarchy, tentatively titled Being Father of a Daughter Is Not Easy. She speaks Dari, Pashto, Urdu, and English, and continues to use her voice to bridge cultures and raise awareness about the realities many Afghan women face today.

https://medium.com/me/stories/public