Taliban forces have arrested a 13-year-old girl who was working disguised in male attire in Afghanistan’s Helmand province.
According to international media reports, the girl, named Noriya, had been employed at a café under the name “Noor Ahmad” for the past three years.
In a viral social media video, Noriya explained that following her father’s death, she became the sole provider for her family and was forced by extreme poverty to dress as a boy to work. She said she had tried to conceal her identity but was eventually discovered and taken into custody.
The incident comes amid strict restrictions imposed on women’s education, employment, and mobility since the Taliban’s return to power. Thousands of women have lost employment opportunities in both public and private sectors due to these bans.
Noriya’s arrest has sparked strong reactions on social media, highlighting once again the challenges and denial of basic rights faced by Afghan women.
