Zahra Joya
Journalist| founder of Rukhshana media| rukhshana.com/en| views are my own.
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaThey read not for entertainment but, as they put it, to understand life and the world around them. They call their group “women with books and imagination”. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/with-book...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaEvery winter, they risk being cut off by deep snow and unable to access the city for crucial medical services, trade and other essentials. Read more:https://rukhshana.com/en/digging-for-development-how-hazara-women-are-helping-to-build-a-road-for-their-community/
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaResidents say that around a third of the 300 people who have worked on the project to connect the central provinces of Daikundi, Uruzgan and Ghazni to the capital, Kabul, were women.
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaThis morning we heard powerful testimonies from human rights defenders Rahima Mahmut, @zahrajoya.bsky.social and Olga Borisova on why end-to-end encryption is essential for safe, private communication. The UK government’s push for backdoors would put lives at risk. Their stories show why.
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaThese are among the punishments laid out in a new criminal code that has been officially adopted by the Taliban in Afghanistan. rukhshana.com/en/how-the-t...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaA young Afghan woman has been arrested by the Taliban’s morality police while secretly training girls in taekwondo. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/taliban-d...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaA female journalist has been detained by Taliban intelligence forces in the northern Afghan province of Kunduz, sources close to her family said. rukhshana.com/en/taliban-a...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaWhen the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan closed amid escalating tensions between the two neighbours, Somaya Nadari’s mother lost access to the treatment that had been keeping her alive. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/how-the-c...
- Happy New Year! 2025 was a good year for me, even though the world remains in turmoil and the girls of Afghanistan are still denied their freedom. I hope 2026 will be a year of real change—a year when doors reopen, voices are heard, and girls return to education with dignity and hope.
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaAppearing on stage at the opening of his exhibition wearing a burqa, he declared: “Wherever a woman’s body is controlled, everyone’s freedom is in danger.” rukhshana.com/en/i-felt-su...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaWhen Medina’s sister went into labour in November, her family took her to the main provincial hospital in Sar-e Pol. There, they were told she needed a caesarean section, but that no specialist was available to carry one out. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/afghanist...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaBefore the regime change, I worked as a teacher in a girls’ secondary school. I had a calm and modest life. My salary was not very high, but at least my children went to bed with full stomachs. rukhshana.com/en/from-teac...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaFamilies would go there to worship, often bringing food to cook and eat together. A section of the mosque was dedicated women-only. Rukhshana Media sent a reporter to the shrine to investigate the reports. This is what he saw: rukhshana.com/en/you-shoul...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaAlex Crawford explained the difficulties of reporting from the ground, with 90 percent of journalist visa applications being refused by the Taliban over the last four years. rukhshana.com/en/how-can-t...
- “I was so terrified that I don’t even remember how I got out of his office. Afterwards, I swore to myself I would never go near that filthy man again, even if we die of hunger.”
- Laila with three children to bring up alone, she found work cooking and cleaning – until that, too, was taken away when the Taliban came to power. Desperate, she went to those in authority to seek their help feeding her family. rukhshana.com/en/nowhere-t...
- This is our latest report on the issue of femicide in Afghanistan.
- Rukhshana Media has documented 117 cases of women dying either by suicide or at the hands of a family member or stranger in the 12 months since November 25 last year. The true figure is likely to be much higher. rukhshana.com/en/violence-...
- The lamps she produces are decorative, but they are also designed to operate reliably despite Afghanistan’s unstable power supply, working even in low-voltage conditions. Setara says they last longer than imported ones.
- A small domestic crisis provided the first spark that ignited a new career for Setara. She was home alone one night when the power went out, and she realised she had no clue how to fix the problem. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/how-a-sma...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaSince it was introduced last Wednesday, women seeking treatment have been turned away from hospitals because they weren’t wearing the burqa, while access to government services has also been affected, causing widespread distress and triggering protest. rukhshana.com/en/taliban-i...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaWithin hours Karishma, who was widowed three years ago, had appeared in court on unspecified charges and been sent to Kabul’s notorious Pul-e-Charkhi jail, Afghanistan’s largest high-security prison. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/go-with-l...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaThey say they are protecting our “honor,” our “values,” but let’s be honest — they are protecting their fear. They’re terrified of a woman who can think. Because once a woman begins to think, she begins to question. rukhshana.com/en/they-shou...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaThe Taliban held a press conference at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi on Sunday with female journalists present, two days after attracting a storm of criticism for reportedly turning women and foreign journalists away from a similar event. rukhshana.com/en/taliban-h...
- I’m so proud and privileged to be part of this amazing college community! Thank you so much for your support ❤️
- Today is International #DayOfTheGirl, and a fitting time to share the work of Hughes Fellow @zahrajoya.bsky.social, founder of @rukhshanamedia.bsky.social, a news agency focused on documenting the challenges and stories of Afghan women and children. youtu.be/_eOpuNJWiS4?...
- A hearing into the Taliban’s treatment of women in Afghanistan opened on Wednesday in the Spanish capital, seeking to amplify the voices of victims and hold the group accountable for human rights violations. rukhshana.com/en/peoples-t...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaWe're delighted to announce the appointment of Sarah Gibson as the new chair of the Rukhshana Media board of trustees. Sarah brings a wealth of experience in international journalism and is a committed advocate for equality and inclusion.1/3
- Afghanistan was plunged into isolation on Monday as internet services were cut and mobile communications severely disrupted.
- Afghanistan was plunged into isolation on Monday as internet services were cut and mobile communications severely disrupted. rukhshana.com/en/afghanist...
- Then this month, the Afghan Education Ministry wrote to schools saying it was removing 51 subject headings from the curriculum, describing them as anti-Islamic.
- Lessons in arts and culture or civic engagement are out. In their place, a renewed focus on religious studies, Sharia law and recitations of the Quran. This is education, Taliban-style. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/taliban-o...
- That was until 2021, when the Taliban returned to power in her native Afghanistan. Now, the pool in Kabul where she used to swim is dry, the building abandoned and its doors bolted against the young women she once coached.
- That was until 2021, when the Taliban returned to power in her native Afghanistan. Now, the pool in Kabul where she used to swim is dry, the building abandoned and its doors bolted against the young women she once coached. rukhshana.com/en/swimming-...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaDuring the @Cam.ac.uk Alumni Festival, @ZahraJoya.bsky.social, Afghan Journalist & founder of @rukhshanamedia.bsky.social, & Laurie Bristow, former UK Ambassador to Afghanistan, will discuss why education is resistance in oppressive regimes. Details & booking: www.hughes.cam.ac.uk/about/events...
- Reposted by Zahra Joyathe group’s supreme leader had personally taken the decision to allow the removal of women’s photos from the cards on the advice of the Dar al-Ifta, or religious council. rukhshana.com/en/afghan-wo...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaMost of the children she sees are moderately malnourished, the legacy of poverty and a series of droughts that have compounded the difficulties of life in a region known for its harsh climate. rukhshana.com/en/how-one-a...
- Excited to be part of this amazing event! It’s an honor to speak alongside Sir Laurie and share the stage with such inspiring minds. If you are around and interested, please join us! You could book the tickets for the event! 👇🏿
- During the @Cam.ac.uk Alumni Festival, @ZahraJoya.bsky.social, Afghan Journalist & founder of @rukhshanamedia.bsky.social, & Laurie Bristow, former UK Ambassador to Afghanistan, will discuss why education is resistance in oppressive regimes. Details & booking: www.hughes.cam.ac.uk/about/events...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaMore than 800 people have been killed in an earthquake in a remote mountainous part of eastern Afghanistan, a Taliban spokesman said on Monday. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/hundreds-...
- “Now, I don’t think I can keep going because the risk is too high [but] I don’t know any other work. Our situation is very bad, but in this world there is no one to hear our voice or support us,” she added.
- The Taliban have issued an order targeting underground beauty salons operating in secret across Afghanistan, warning the women running them that they have to stop or face arrest. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/taliban-l...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaMahnaz, whose real name we are withholding at her request, is one of around half a dozen women interviewed by Rukhshana Media in Herat who left Afghanistan hoping for a better life and have now returned, penniless and homeless. rukhshana.com/en/we-have-n...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaFor more than a decade, Radio Nasim had operated as a rare independent and non-partisan voice in central Afghanistan, home to the country’s Hazara ethnic group. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/afghan-ra...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaA hospital worker in Afghanistan has told Rukhshana Media how she was abducted by the Taliban, held captive and gang-raped over several days before being abandoned in the desert and left to die, in what she believes was a punishment for doing her job. rukhshana.com/en/the-afgha...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaWhen the Taliban issued a decree barring women from attending universities, “it felt like everything was over,” she says. “I just read books and scrolled Instagram, but I felt like my life had stopped.” Read more: rukhshana.com/en/against-a...
- I’m happy to share that Rukhshana Media has now started publishing in Pashto. With this, we now publish in three languages. Farsi, Pashto and English! This challenging journey wouldn’t have been possible without your generous support. Thank you! 💜
- 📢 An Update from Rukhshana Media: We’re thrilled to announce that Rukhshana Media is now publishing stories in Pashto, alongside our existing coverage in Farsi and English! Explore our Pashto-language content here: 🔗 rukhshana.com/ps/
- Reposted by Zahra Joya🗣️ #WPSWednesday: In #Afghanistan, “most female-led businesses have collapsed, due to Taliban control, ineffective aid & a failure to go beyond symbolic actions that provide little genuine support for women’s enterprises.” @rukhshanamedia.bsky.social rukhshana.com/en/a-market-...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaFor this story, Rukhshana Media spoke to families and psychologists in Mazar-i-Sharif, which before the Taliban takeover in 2021 was one of Afghanistan’s most prosperous and liberal cities, to assess the impact of these changes on children. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/an-invisi...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaTaliban arrest dozens of young Afghan women over hijab rules rukhshana.com/en/taliban-a...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaShe was a second-year agriculture student when the Taliban barred women from attending university, and could see her career plans disappearing before her eyes. If she couldn’t get a job, she decided, she would set up on her own. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/how-a-you...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaICC issues warrant for Taliban’s supreme leader for persecution of women rukhshana.com/en/icc-issue...
- Reposted by Zahra Joya“You filed a complaint with the commission, and I can’t forget that. You shamed me in front of everyone. You questioned my manhood,” she recalls him telling her. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/obsessed-wi…
- Reposted by Zahra Joya“I told him, ‘This time, when I return to Zebak, it will be with my degree in hand.’ But instead, I came back with tearful eyes and a heart full of pain,” says Lina as she recalls the day her hopes of a different life were cut short. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/how-afgha...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaTaliban arrest Afghan media workers over promotion of feminism rukhshana.com/en/taliban-a...
- Reposted by Zahra Joya#Afghanistan 🇦🇫 Exiled journalist @zahrajoya.bsky.social urged global support for the local media who face harsh restrictions under #Taliban rule. "If the world ignores them, their voices, & their stories, may be lost forever." @indexoncensorship.org
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaHer cracked lips seemed to scream the wounds of her life. Blood seeped from the fissures in her parched skin, and her eyes, like two deep hollows, had sunken into her thin, worn face. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/from-a-ch...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaAfghan journalist @zahrajoya.bsky.social reminds the #UK government, on #WorldRefugeeDay, that protecting those forced into exile for their safety is not only a human right, but a defence of truth, history, & freedom itself: www.indexoncensorship.org/2025/06/esca... @rukhshanamedia.bsky.social
- Misinformation is terrifying. The media and White House say Trump left the G7 conference early over Middle East tensions, but he denies it. Facts are blurred, stories clash. Who’s telling the truth? Where are we headed?
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaHadia worries most about her 13-year-old daughter, fearing the girl could be pushed into an early marriage by her father-in-law. As a victim of forced marriage herself, she knows what that would be like. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/no-one-wi...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaAdiba set up her shop in a market in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif that the Taliban set up for women in 2023, promising to promote it through advertising and flyers. But no customers came. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/a-market-...
- How ordinary men became unpaid Taliban enforcers in their own homes Published in Partnership with @theguardian.com rukhshana.com/en/how-ordin...
- Taliban publicly whip 116 people, including 22 women, over five weeks
- Over the past five weeks, the Taliban have publicly whipped at least 86 individuals, including 22 women, across various provinces in Afghanistan, according to statements issued by the Taliban’s Supreme Court. rukhshana.com/en/taliban-p...
- Reposted by Zahra Joya@rukhshanamedia.bsky.social continues to tell the stories the Taliban don’t want to be heard. In our first "Letter from the Field," @zahrajoya.bsky.social explains what American journalists can learn from her experiences fighting for #pressfreedom in Afghanistan. bit.ly/4kvRfLk
- Reposted by Zahra Joya“They didn’t do anything to me during the day, but at night, the real nightmare began,” Safari told a Rukhshana Media reporter by phone from a neighbouring country where she now lives in exile with her three children. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/imprisone...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaOver the past nearly four years, our work at Rukhshana has been to closely observe and report what women in Afghanistan are experiencing, and to ensure that what is happening to them does not remain hidden in media silence and indifference. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/misleadin...
- It was so nice meeting you Saskia. Thank you for taking the time to speak with me and for the opportunity to speak about my work alongside of my brilliant colleagues!
- Journalisten zonder gezicht en zonder naam. Vanuit Londen begeleidt de moedige Zahra Joya een vrouwelijk journalistencollectief dat in het geheim opnames maakt in Afghanistan Ze was te gast in debatcentrum De Balie in Amsterdam en wij spraken met haar Ons #Nieuwsuur verslag ⬇️ nos.nl/l/2568994
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaLaten we de vrouwen in Afghanistan niet vergeten. Maar hoe kunnen we helpen?
- Journalisten zonder gezicht en zonder naam. Vanuit Londen begeleidt de moedige Zahra Joya een vrouwelijk journalistencollectief dat in het geheim opnames maakt in Afghanistan Ze was te gast in debatcentrum De Balie in Amsterdam en wij spraken met haar Ons #Nieuwsuur verslag ⬇️ nos.nl/l/2568994
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaVan Houdt worked in Afghanistan for over a decade. he had travelled to 26 provinces of Afghanistan and his work has appeared in publications such as FT Weekend Magazine, Der Spiegel, Stern, The New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, among others. rukhshana.com/en/interview...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaZakia, 16, from District 18 of Kabul, had a similar experience. She had her first period at age 12 without any prior knowledge or understanding. “I didn’t know what a period was or why it was happening to me. I had never even heard the word ‘period,’” Zakia said. rukhshana.com/en/as-the-wo...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaGisteren sprak ik de Afghaanse journaliste en Time Woman of the Year @zahrajoya.bsky.social over de noodzaak vrouwen in haar land te steunen. De Schoof regering wil onze inzet voor #vrouwenrechten schrappen. Daarom dien ik morgen een motie in om de financiering voor vrouwenrechten te behouden.
- Gisteren sprak ik de Afghaanse journaliste en Time Woman of the Year @zahrajoya.bsky.social over de noodzaak vrouwen in haar land te steunen. De Schoof regering wil onze inzet voor #vrouwenrechten schrappen. Daarom dien ik morgen een motie in om de financiering voor vrouwenrechten te behouden.
- In February, the ministry publicly burned about 900 kilograms (about 2,000 pounds) of women’s hair in the capital Kabul, saying it was to “preserve Islamic values and human dignity.”
- In a quiet alley in western Afghanistan, a middle-aged woman swathed in a hijab is pleading with a dealer to buy one of the only remaining things she has to sell – hair cut from her and her daughters’ heads. Read more: rukhshana.com/en/its-worth...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaOne student, who spoke to Rukhshana Media on the condition of anonymity, described the daily inspections carried out by school supervisors at the gates of her madrasa in Herat. Read more: rukhshana.org/en/in-afghan...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaHearing Malala and @zahrajoya.bsky.social talk last night was exactly what I - nay we - need in these dark times. A reminder that courageous and principled people do still exist
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaHer photographs, which she recently showcased in a groundbreaking Kabul exhibition, portray ordinary Afghan women. Together, they tell a story of deprivation and suffering, but also resilience and hope in the face of oppression. Read more: rukhshana.org/en/secret-ka...
- Reposted by Zahra JoyaOver in Afghanistan, girls and women grapple with one of the harshest forms of gender apartheid ever seen. Still, their hopes for a future where they can fully participate in society remain solid. Read more: rukhshana.org/en/a-century...
