In August 2021, no one could have predicted that the Taliban would quickly sweep across Afghanistan. The hopes and dreams for a better future were swept away for many as the Taliban marched unopposed into Kabul. Frishta Matin and her family are Afghan Hazaras, an ethnic minority persecuted by the Taliban; life for Frishta and her family had become extremely dangerous.
The NGO that Frishta and her Sister, Farzana, worked for acted quickly to secure them a place in the ensuing evacuation. And on the 21st of September 2021, they boarded a US military transport plane and said goodbye to family members left behind, their country and their hopes for Afghanistan.
Frishta, her husband Murtaza, their baby Kia, Frishta’s brother Zakar and sister Farzana were lucky to be evacuated from the chaos and uncertainty. At the start of this long journey, they had no idea where they would end up.
After being processed in Qatar, they were told that they were heading to the UK, specifically the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. An Island 126 miles from the mainland, known for its barren terrain and unforgiving weather, the Isle of Lewis could not be further from Afghanistan in more ways than one.
“I was really afraid that day, and I was afraid that we could not live here, the environment is totally different. We were happy with water and being in a green area but here we are afraid of the water because it’s everywhere and I just wanted to close my eyes and not look around because there are so many lakes”
“Even though I am here, mentally we are not ok, I think about the family and what is happening to them. Even though I am far from the Taliban here, every night I still have dreams about them and the whole of the next day I cannot do anything because of that dream and I cannot even tell others what I dream about.”
“When we came here the first thing that was difficult for me was the rain, but I noticed some areas that look like parts of Afghanistan, it gives me a good feeling that we are in a peaceful area.”
“I miss the kind of bread that we have in Afghanistan, it’s delicious, it’s really good, and each time you eat it, for breakfast, for lunch and dinner you have this warm bread, either it’s from outside, or if we make it at home, it’s delicious. I think we can only find it in Afghanistan and South Asia, the bread is totally different here, even different types of fruit but they are still good here.”
“Me and my sister can go for walks, just the two of us, it’s not something we can do in Afghanistan because as early as 4pm all the women should be in the houses, it’s not just the Taliban or the bombing it’s a cultural tradition. I hope we can have this freedom in Afghanistan as well.”
“In front of the airport in Kabul, they were throwing like flash grenades and smoke bombs to stop the crowds. On the last day, they used tear gas, and we were all crying; it was horrible. That night our own police were shooting at us to disperse the crowd; there were 1000 people in front of the airport. A man was getting close to the army, and they shot him. I don’t know what happened to him. Did he die, or was he just injured? It’s all still in my head.”
“It’s amazing and funny sometimes, and it’s new for us that from one window you can see the sun, and from the other window you can see the hailstones, or from one window the weather is clear, and the sky is blue, but from the other, it’s cloudy and dark, this is all new for us.”
“We decided to come here, and now we are here we should get to know about this new culture and to adapt, it’s good to save your own culture, but at the same time, we are ones who decided to come here so we are the ones who should bring change in our life. For Kia, I am trying; he should know the English language, the culture here and the people here so he can have the living and the lifestyle that people here have. And we will try our best for ourselves as well to continue studying, start a job, start from zero again.”
