I knew very well that I was living in a war-torn country, a dangerous place for women in the region, but I wanted to become a journalist, so that I could go even to the remote areas and report on the different issues that the local communities were facing, especially on the challenges to their fundamental rights. When I decided to become a journalist, I accepted all the risks. As a journalist with the focus on human rights, I knew about everything that was happening in my country and had close contact with those who were victims of rights violations by warlords as well as by the Taliban. Nevertheless, I have prepared reports on dozens of human rights abuses. I have talked to various people, women, children and men; this was my passion and responsibility.

Yes, I have faced a number of threats and harassments. For instance, in December 2016, I prepared a report that Marshal Abdul Rashid Dostum, who was Afghanistan’s first Vice President at that time, kidnapped, Mr. Ahmad Ishchi, a former Vice President of the National Movement Party and imprisoned him for 16 days. I interviewed Mr. Ishchi, after he was released from Marshal Dostum's prison. He told me that Marshal Dostum intended to rape him and that his men beat and sexually abused him on Marshal Dostum's orders. In the history of Afghan journalism, no reporter had conducted such an interview and no one knew anything about preparing such issues. My colleagues at the Tolo News and I were shaking after this interview did not know what to do with this interview at the beginning. Marshal Dostum was not a simple person. He was one of the most powerful government official in the country. Anyway, we decided to publish my interview report. I did not know whether to be happy or sad, but my family and friends were afraid, everyone was afraid. The Afghan National Security Office deployed a number of forces around our office to protect us, because we were expecting Marshal Dostum’s militia to come over. Later on, I faced enormous harassment via social media. Marshall's fans crossed out my photos on social media and called me ugly. They were sending me messages and insulting me. This situation lasted for a long time.

No, I was not afraid and I was expecting any reaction and ready for it. I had done my job. A person had faced violence and his rights had been violated; and as a journalist, I had to report and convey the voice of the oppressed.

The media in Afghanistan were in a better condition at that time than during the Taliban 20 years ago, although Afghanistan did not have the experience of free media before that. Dozens of free media were established in this country and journalists were able to work in free media for the first time. It had made good progress. There was freedom. We had severe security problems, but there was freedom of expression. Access to information was difficult, but there was freedom of expression. But with the presence of the Taliban, this freedom disappeared. Now, we do nothave anything called free media and freedom of expression. All the media under the administration of the Taliban provide information at the request of the Taliban.

Today, dozens of human rights violations occur in Afghanistan every day, but none of them are reported. There are no investigations about any of them. There is a need to train a group of investigative reporters, and these reporters should do research on violations that are committed by the Taliban, especially against women rights, as well as by the irresponsible group and individuals that are not under the control of the Taliban, such as forced marriages in remote areas, killing of female journalists, violence against former government officials and so on. I know it's hard, but there are young journalists in Afghanistan who are willing to do this. Institutions supporting journalists, who work outside of Afghanistan, should work to train Afghan investigative journalists.

Journalists should be the voice of the people; they never stop writing about the untold stories of the Afghan people. I ask the international community to help Afghan journalists. There are still journalists in Afghanistan with their families who have not been helped by any institution. Help these reporters.