Afghan Women Facing Online Harassment in Their Struggle for Economic Survival

A number of women and girls in Kabul who run online businesses report frequent harassment by users in digital spaces. They say they do not feel safe, even in virtual environments. Some of these girls, who turned to online commerce as a way to earn a living, confirm that after a period of time, they were forced to abandon their work due to continuous harassment, inappropriate marriage proposals, and obscene sexual messages. According to them, in the absence of the rule of law, social support, and in the face of a deeply misogynistic society, there is no safe space for women to work.

These young women say that despite striving for financial independence, they are not only facing economic hardships but also serious challenges from widespread harassment, which has become a major barrier to their work.

Marwa (name changed), a 23-year-old girl with big dreams and a heavy heart, bears the responsibility of supporting her seven-member family. Her father, after years of service, has been forced into retirement without receiving a pension, and her mother has been jobless ever since the Taliban banned women from working with international organizations.

Marwa was studying midwifery at a private institution, but the Taliban shut down these institutions too—depriving thousands of girls of their right to education and their ability to learn nursing skills critical for maternal and infant care.

Now, Marwa has started selling hygiene products online. She wants to earn an income to support her family. Marwa says:

“It’s truly unfortunate that the Taliban have already restricted us so much, and on top of that, people harass us too.”

She adds:

“Some people don’t intend to buy anything. They message just to harass. They ask for prices, make irrelevant comments, then propose marriage or say demeaning, vulgar things—it’s honestly exhausting.”

Marwa recounts:

“One man called me on WhatsApp and asked the price of a serum. I told him it’s 1,800 Afghanis. He replied, ‘What kind of girl are you? That’s your price? You’re not even worth that much.’”

Rukhsar (name changed), a fourth-year medical student with similar experiences, says she feels disheartened and unsure about her future path when faced with such behavior. For more than two years, she has been selling beauty and hygiene products online.

She too shares painful stories of repeated harassment:

“Some people got my WhatsApp number from Facebook and started sending obscene and disturbing messages.”

She continues:

“One boy called and initially asked about product prices, but then started talking about personal issues and even his sexual problems—saying very offensive things. It was really disturbing.”

Rukhsar adds:

“That call didn’t just shock me; it left me feeling unsafe and unprotected. We are working hard for a lawful living—not to be harassed.”

The constant harassment has forced many women entrepreneurs to quit their online work and stay at home. According to them, this decision was not out of choice but due to insecurity, lack of legal protection, and social pressure.

Malalai (name changed), a teacher at a private school, said her salary was not enough to cover living expenses, so she turned to online work.

“We worked hard to find customers, but many people took advantage of our difficult situation. I had to quit just to protect my dignity and honor, because the harassment was starting to affect my personal life.”

Women selling online say their pain is endless—they do not feel safe even in the digital world. They often face insults, obscene language, and humiliating messages.

They emphasize that the lack of law enforcement and social protection has left many women sellers in silence, enduring online abuse. According to them, Taliban rule has destroyed not just their personal lives but the lives of all Afghan women, as well as the civil liberties and human rights gained over the past 20 years.

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, they have imposed severe restrictions on women’s education, employment, and public life. Women are now banned from parks, public baths, travel, sports, and even entering stadiums.

In a recent statement at the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Richard Bennett, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, said that families—due to extreme poverty and to prevent forced marriages between their daughters and Taliban members—are forced to make marriage decisions themselves. He noted that marginalized Afghan women are victims of multiple layers of discrimination, including gender, ethnic, and social bias. The report emphasizes that women and girls are facing systematic and open repression.

Furthermore, UN Women recently released its Gender Index for Afghanistan in 2024. The report reveals that Afghan women significantly lag behind global standards in human development. According to the data, nearly 8 out of every 10 young women.