“When I was 12 my brother told me I had to wear the burqa, but I really wanted to play, because I was a child. It's an age you want to play outside and have a good time. And they told me I had to wear it or I couldn't leave the home. I felt it was controlling me, because when I wore it I felt I wasn't a child anymore.” WantChildrenPlayHomeAgeWantedFeltBrotherMy BrotherGood TimesHaving A Good TimeBurqa Author:Malina Suliman
“When I came back from Pakistan, I wanted to take computer classes nearby. I asked my brother. I was in my home, cooking for my family, and all our relatives and guests. But I said, "I want to live my life as a woman, but I want to study." But, he told me, "Just study at home, you don't need to go out." He said, "If you go to the courses, what will our relatives say? They will lose respect for us." They told me, "We know you're feeling different, but we cannot do anything about it."” IfsKnowsWantNeedsSaidDifferentFeelingsHomeWantedCoursesLosesClassStudyBrotherComputerMy FamilyCookingMy BrotherGuestsLiving My LifePakistanHome Cooking Author:Malina Suliman
“There are two ways. One is to be a puppet, follow the culture, and do whatever they want. That was mentally disturbing to me, and still is. And the other way is to go out. I knew there would be problems from my family, and also from my environment. But I thought that physical pain would be better than the mental pain. And I started working as an artist.” WayWantStillsTwoProblemWould BePainArtistCultureEnvironmentMy FamilyDisturbingTwo WaysPuppetsPhysical PainMental Pain Author:Malina Suliman
“If people say harsh words to me though, I don't care. It's a risk to my life. The Taliban don't want us to be working, so they'll shoot us. And women who break their rules, they put acid on them. I said, if they shoot me, OK, but if they put acid on me, I will be alive as a dead body. I was always so afraid of that.” PeopleIfsWantSaidBodyCareBreakAliveRiskDon't CareI Don't CareHarshWant UAcidTalibanHarsh Words Author:Malina Suliman
“Afghans think the burqa is a permanent part of culture. But, if you bring it to Europe, how would people react? Afghanistan doesn't want to change its culture, but it can change, all the time. So why are Afghans giving so much value to it? The burqa is not natural. It's not human nature.” PeopleIfsThinkingWantGivingHumansValuesCultureNaturalHuman NatureEuropePermanentAfghanistanBurqa Author:Malina Suliman
“If I start talking about my own hopes, it'll take hours. The biggest hope is that there's not any more discrimination between men and women. That women could have equal rights. It's very painful when you see in your family that a brother can do anything he wants, but at the same age, you can't.” IfsMenWantAgeCan DoHoursMy OwnTalkingRightsBrotherEqualMen And WomenPainfulDiscriminationOur FamilyEqual Rights Author:Malina Suliman
