Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in August 2021, they have enforced a strict interpretation of sharia law, and there have been numerous human rights violations, particularly against women and girls. Corporal punishment has been brought back, especially in the form of public floggings. Girls are banned from attending school beyond the sixth grade. Women cannot access many businesses, government offices, and other public spaces without an approved male escort and are increasingly limited in the types of work they can engage in. Child marriage rates have increased. Journalists working with diaspora media outlets face harassment and arrest, and the vast majority of female journalists have been forced to leave their jobs. Looking at the overall Afghan economy, over half a million jobs have been lost, with unemployment doubling. As of 2024, three-quarters of the population did not have sufficient food and other basic amenities considered necessary to survive.
Due to these harsh conditions, some Afghans have attempted to flee the country. Most of the thousands of Afghans who have immigrated to Germany since 2021 previously worked with the German army or German aid agencies in Afghanistan. However, when they arrive in Germany, the refugees are often not able to work with the same or similar organizations, due to lack of German language skills and other qualifications. They therefore struggle to make a living and support their families, both in and outside Germany.
Afghan Mothers’ Kitchen آشپزخانه مادر is a women empowerment initiative focused on providing Afghan women an opportunity to raise funds and simultaneously share their culture with others in Berlin. It is a space where Afghan women in Berlin can come together and cook specialties from their homeland to raise money to help cover their families’ basic living expenses. In this way, they can support their family members, not only in Berlin, but also those who are still in Afghanistan and in dire need of assistance. And of course, this project is also about introducing other Berliners to the unique, delicious Afghan cuisine.
