About
<strong>Age:</strong> 31
<strong>Place of Birth:</strong> Faizabad, Badakhshan, Afghanistan
<strong>Status:</strong> Journalist, Civil Activist, and Member of Women’s Protest Movements — At Immediate Risk of Arrest, Violence, and Deportation
<strong>Introduction</strong>
Shabana Shabdiz is a courageous Afghan journalist and women’s rights activist whose work spans more than a decade across media, civil society, and human rights advocacy. Beginning in 2014 with the Badakhshan Civil Society Complex, she played an active role in promoting civic engagement, gender equality, and women’s participation in social and political life.
Her career includes hosting political and social programs at Mehr Badakhshan Radio and Television, producing women’s legal awareness programs at Radio Voice of Women, and later serving as a program producer and field coordinator for the Canadian-supported project <em>Her Voice, Her Right</em> with BBC Media Action. Through these platforms, she addressed issues such as violence against women, education, economic independence, and civic participation.
Alongside her media work, she has been a trainer and community organizer, conducting workshops on women’s rights, anti-harassment laws, and UN Security Council Resolution 1325, supported by organizations such as GIZ, UNAMA, and the Aga Khan Foundation.
<strong>Story of Resistance and Threats</strong>
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Shabana has emerged as one of the outspoken protest voices under the slogan <em>“Bread, Work, Freedom.”</em> Her activism, however, has made her a primary target of Taliban intelligence and affiliates:
<ul>
<li><strong>2014–2020:</strong> Faced harassment and threats due to her civil society and media activities.</li>
<li><strong>January 2022 (Kabul):</strong> Beaten, detained, and tortured by Taliban enforcers during anti-hijab protests.</li>
<li><strong>August 2022:</strong> Received an official Taliban threat letter and arrest warrant after participating in mass demonstrations.</li>
<li><strong>September 2023:</strong> Her mother was tragically killed during a Taliban raid in her maternal village.</li>
<li><strong>Late 2023–2024:</strong> Multiple Taliban raids on her family homes in Badakhshan and Kabul; ongoing surveillance and death threats.</li>
<li><strong>2024–2025 (Pakistan):</strong> Arrest, harassment, and deportation of family members; continuous persecution and deprivation under refugee status.</li>
</ul>
<strong>Activities and Roles</strong>
<ul>
<li>Former Host & Program Producer at Mehr Badakhshan Radio and Television (2014–2016)</li>
<li>Program Producer & Host at Radio Voice of Women, Badakhshan (2016–2020)</li>
<li>Program Producer & Field Coordinator, <em>Her Voice, Her Right</em> — BBC Media Action (2017–2020)</li>
<li>Trainer, Women’s Message Institute (WMO), conducting workshops on women’s rights and anti-violence laws</li>
<li>Active organizer and participant in the Afghan women’s protest movement post-2021</li>
</ul>
<strong>Current Situation (September 2025)</strong>
Shabana lives in displacement in Pakistan with her family, enduring constant fear of arrest and deportation. She has no secure legal status, limited access to food, housing, or medical care, and remains under direct threat from Taliban intelligence networks operating across the region.
<strong>Message from Shabana Shabdiz</strong>
“I raised my voice because silence was no longer survival.
Even when I was beaten, even when my mother was killed, I knew the path of justice could not end with fear.
I am not asking for privilege — I am asking for protection.
Not only for myself, but for every Afghan woman who still dares to dream of freedom.”
<strong>Urgent Call for Support</strong>
Shabana and her family urgently require international protection and multi-dimensional support:
<ul>
<li><strong>Legal Assistance:</strong> To prevent deportation from Pakistan and to secure safe asylum in a third country.</li>
<li><strong>Financial Assistance:</strong> To cover basic needs, housing, food, education for her child, and medical/psychological care for trauma.</li>
</ul>
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<strong>Place of Birth:</strong> Faizabad, Badakhshan, Afghanistan
<strong>Status:</strong> Journalist, Civil Activist, and Member of Women’s Protest Movements — At Immediate Risk of Arrest, Violence, and Deportation
<strong>Introduction</strong>
Shabana Shabdiz is a courageous Afghan journalist and women’s rights activist whose work spans more than a decade across media, civil society, and human rights advocacy. Beginning in 2014 with the Badakhshan Civil Society Complex, she played an active role in promoting civic engagement, gender equality, and women’s participation in social and political life.
Her career includes hosting political and social programs at Mehr Badakhshan Radio and Television, producing women’s legal awareness programs at Radio Voice of Women, and later serving as a program producer and field coordinator for the Canadian-supported project <em>Her Voice, Her Right</em> with BBC Media Action. Through these platforms, she addressed issues such as violence against women, education, economic independence, and civic participation.
Alongside her media work, she has been a trainer and community organizer, conducting workshops on women’s rights, anti-harassment laws, and UN Security Council Resolution 1325, supported by organizations such as GIZ, UNAMA, and the Aga Khan Foundation.
<strong>Story of Resistance and Threats</strong>
Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, Shabana has emerged as one of the outspoken protest voices under the slogan <em>“Bread, Work, Freedom.”</em> Her activism, however, has made her a primary target of Taliban intelligence and affiliates:
<ul>
<li><strong>2014–2020:</strong> Faced harassment and threats due to her civil society and media activities.</li>
<li><strong>January 2022 (Kabul):</strong> Beaten, detained, and tortured by Taliban enforcers during anti-hijab protests.</li>
<li><strong>August 2022:</strong> Received an official Taliban threat letter and arrest warrant after participating in mass demonstrations.</li>
<li><strong>September 2023:</strong> Her mother was tragically killed during a Taliban raid in her maternal village.</li>
<li><strong>Late 2023–2024:</strong> Multiple Taliban raids on her family homes in Badakhshan and Kabul; ongoing surveillance and death threats.</li>
<li><strong>2024–2025 (Pakistan):</strong> Arrest, harassment, and deportation of family members; continuous persecution and deprivation under refugee status.</li>
</ul>
<strong>Activities and Roles</strong>
<ul>
<li>Former Host & Program Producer at Mehr Badakhshan Radio and Television (2014–2016)</li>
<li>Program Producer & Host at Radio Voice of Women, Badakhshan (2016–2020)</li>
<li>Program Producer & Field Coordinator, <em>Her Voice, Her Right</em> — BBC Media Action (2017–2020)</li>
<li>Trainer, Women’s Message Institute (WMO), conducting workshops on women’s rights and anti-violence laws</li>
<li>Active organizer and participant in the Afghan women’s protest movement post-2021</li>
</ul>
<strong>Current Situation (September 2025)</strong>
Shabana lives in displacement in Pakistan with her family, enduring constant fear of arrest and deportation. She has no secure legal status, limited access to food, housing, or medical care, and remains under direct threat from Taliban intelligence networks operating across the region.
<strong>Message from Shabana Shabdiz</strong>
“I raised my voice because silence was no longer survival.
Even when I was beaten, even when my mother was killed, I knew the path of justice could not end with fear.
I am not asking for privilege — I am asking for protection.
Not only for myself, but for every Afghan woman who still dares to dream of freedom.”
<strong>Urgent Call for Support</strong>
Shabana and her family urgently require international protection and multi-dimensional support:
<ul>
<li><strong>Legal Assistance:</strong> To prevent deportation from Pakistan and to secure safe asylum in a third country.</li>
<li><strong>Financial Assistance:</strong> To cover basic needs, housing, food, education for her child, and medical/psychological care for trauma.</li>
</ul>
<div class="elementor-button-wrapper"><a class="elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm elementor-animation-grow" href="https://af-wjm.org/doantions/">
<span class="elementor-button-content-wrapper">
<span class="elementor-button-icon">
<i class="fas fa-hand-holding-heart" aria-hidden="true"></i> </span>
<span class="elementor-button-text">Donate</span>
</span>
</a></div>