"My Life Was In Danger": Afghanistan's Fariba Hashimi's Shocking Admission On Taliban

From a secret initiation into the world of cycling, enduring the indignities of being a female athlete to escaping the Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and realising their Olympic dreams, Fariba Hashimi and her sister Yulduz have traversed a remarkable journey. Fear was a constant companion for the Hashimi sisters in Faryab, a province in Afghanistan, where the Taliban has banned women from pursuing sports. Even before the Taliban usurped power in 2021 following the collapse of the Afghan National Security Forces and the fall of the government, life was not easy for Fariba and Yulduz.

Their adventure began when an advertisement for a cycle race drew their attention. Keen to give it a shot they borrowed a cycle from a neighbour. Then a 14-year-old, Fariba and Yuldez, 17, finished one-two, using false names.

They had discovered their wings and refused to let anyone ground them, yet they had to conceal their identities with scarves while cycling through the streets of Faryab, even keeping their passion a secret from their parents at first.

Gradually, they gained their parents' support, but one day Yulduz was attacked for engaging in what was deemed a "boys' activity." Despite winning races, the Taliban's takeover left them no choice but to flee the country, where their basic freedoms and rights were severely restricted.

"I left my country for Italy because my life was in super danger," the 21-year old Fariba told PTI.

"When I started cycling, my family was so stressed for me. They were scared for my life when the situation (Taliban takeover) happened in 2021." With the help of former Italian world champion cyclist Alessandra Cappellotto, they left Afghanistan.

"It was not easy for me, leaving my home, family, going to a new