A letter from exile
“The piece of art I've been working on is attached. Although I was supposed to write about "Criticism" and its importance within any community, as I've already mentioned, my area of expertise is more in the areas of journalism, women's rights, and culture. This essay is more personalized and relates to the human rights issue as well. However, I wrote what my heart was telling me to write, and I'm glad if this is what you were looking for.” - Freshta Hemmati
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An 8-year-old Afghan girl residing in Kabul, Afghanistan nearly 20 years ago. Despite her tender age, she exudes an innate passion for communication and storytelling. In the confines of her home, she transforms a simple comb into a makeshift microphone, eagerly assuming the role of a journalist, captivating her family with her animated narratives.
This girl was me! Named Freshta, although my father was calling me Binazeer, which is a Persian-Arabic name meaning unique. As days were passing, I was becoming more Binazeer in my father's eyes, a name echoing the hopes of empowerment and leadership to him. Thus, I found myself performing at school and having active participation as an announcer during school events.
It is worth mentioning to say that, in a country like Afghanistan, Journalism and Politics were known as two phenomena inseparable from each other, which led my way to select journalism as my field to enter university studies.
I began my journey in the media industry while I was still a sophomore student at university. Fueled by a growing sense of responsibility toward the women of my country, I felt compelled to join a project aimed at promoting the self-sufficiency of women across all 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It was a period of immense growth and learning for me, as I delved deeper into my work, driven by a desire to make a tangible difference in the lives of Afghan women. But 2 and half years ago, the tragedy struck once again.
The dark shadow of the Taliban descended upon my homeland, plunging it into uncertainty.
With that happening, I made the difficult decision to flee my homeland to Kazakhstan, where I spent the hardest days of my entire life for nine months.
Once again, "My Land" the prominent song of Dawood Sarkhush, one of the prominent Afghan singers who sang this song during the first takeover of the Taliban, became not only on my mouth, but also on every Afghan’s mouth those days.
My land
I have become homeless
I have moved from one home to another
Without you, I have always been with sorrow shoulder to shoulder
My only love, my existence
My poems and songs have no meaning without you
My land
So exhausted of persecutes
My land
Without any hymn and song
My land
Impatient without medicine (hope)
My land
My land
Who has sung your sorrow? (No one has sung)
My land
Who have opened your way? (No one has solved)
My land
Who has been loyal to you? (No one has been)
My land
My moon and my star, my new way
I can‘t live anywhere but in you …
Nine months later I sought refugee in Canada, thousands of miles away from my homeland, where I still grapple with the emotional turmoil of displacement, longing for a sense of belonging and stability in my new surroundings.
Now, as a young woman residing in Canada, my voice resonates far beyond the borders of my homeland. I advocate tirelessly for the rights of Afghan women and girls, who are literally denied the very basic freedoms to learn, work, and speak their minds. For the sake of God! stand with the women of my country.
Freshta Hemmati is the CEO for Afghanistan Journalists Support Organization (AJSO), and Head of the Advocacy Committee for Women Journalists. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Kabul University and a Masters of International Relations, with a major in diplomacy from Kazakhstan. In 2022, Freshta settled in Canada, which she now calls home. Freshta has made a profound impact as an investigative reporter, engaging radio host, and adept communications specialist internationally, across various media channels and projects.
