Afghan women say studying in Scotland has given back dreams taken by Taliban

A group of female Afghan medical students have said studying in Scotland has given them back a dream that was taken away by the Taliban.

Monday marked a year since nineteen women left Afghanistan with the help of the Linda Norgrove Foundation.

They had been forced to give up their studies after the Taliban took control and cracked down on women’s rights.

Some were in their last semester of university when they were forced to stop studying.

Banin Sultani, who is studying at St Andrews, said: “I started studying medicine in Afghanistan, then it was banned.”

She described restarting her studies in Scotland as “so joyful”.

Muzhda Iqbal also arrived in Scotland one year ago to finish her studies at the University of Dundee.

“People have welcomed me warmly, smiled at me, and given me the feeling that I belong here,” she said.

Although she said her new life here has been “full of challenges”, she said it’s her dream to continue her education.

Kirsty McNeill, under-secretary of state for Scotland, welcomed the 19 women back to the Scotland Office in Edinburgh on Monday for an emotional reunion.

“This has been a transformational opportunity offered to these 19 women,” she said.

“It’s a really emotional day having these students back with us after a year. They are one step closer to becoming the doctors they were born to be. We’re all incredibly proud of them and the resilience they’re showing.”