Afghanistan: How one TV presenter became a refugee

When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan last August, life for many women in the country changed overnight. For one TV presenter, it meant the end of her career, along with her hopes and dreams. Now, almost a year on, she is trying to build a new life as a refugee in the UK.

On 14 August 2021, the night before the Taliban took control of Kabul, Shabhnam Dawran was preparing to present the news bulletin on Radio Television Afghanistan.

In recent days, the Taliban had swept across Afghanistan and had now reached the outskirts of the capital.

The 24-year-old Shabhnam was a rising star. She went on air to break the news to viewers who were glued to their TV screens following every development of the story.

"I was so emotional that I couldn't even read the lead story. People watching me at home could tell what I was going through," she says.

When she woke the next morning, Kabul had fallen to the militant group.

A Taliban member, with the group's black and white flag behind him, was now sitting in the same seat in the studio where Shabhnam had sat the night before.

It marked the end of an era.

At their first official news conference, a Taliban spokesman told a room filled with journalists that women could work "shoulder to shoulder with men".

The next day, a nervous but excited Shabhnam put on her work clothes and made her way to the office.

But as soon as she arrived, she was confronted by Taliban soldiers, who she says were guarding the building and only allowing male workers to enter.

Shabhnam says a soldier told her that "in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, we haven't decided about women yet". Another soldier, she says, told her: "You've worked enough, now it's our time."

When she told them she had every right to work, Shabhnam says one of the soldiers pointed his rifle at her, placed his finger on the trigger and said: "One bullet will be enough for you - will you leave or should I shoot you here"Pete Hegseth wearing a dark navy suit speaks at a lectern while pointing his finger at the audience. In the background is a blue screen displaying the Shangri-la Dialogue's name and topic of Hegseth's speech. " class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/>