Wazhmah sits at home with her daughter Tahmeena (19). Wazhmah’s own education was halted during Taliban control in the 1990s, and she now sees history repeating itself. Kabul, Afghanistan.
2025 Photo Contest - West, Central, and South Asia - Stories

No Woman’s Land

Photographer

Kiana Hayeri

Fondation Carmignac
06 February, 2024

Wazhmah sits at home with her daughter Tahmeena (19). Wazhmah’s own education was halted during Taliban control in the 1990s, and she now sees history repeating itself. Kabul, Afghanistan.

In Afghanistan, the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban government denies women access to education beyond elementary school, bars them from most work outside the home, and in some regions forbids them from leaving home without a male guardian, or with their face uncovered. The spaces where women once gathered freely – schools, parks, gyms, beauty salons, and offices – are now off limits.

Despite these restrictions, Afghan women find subtle but powerful ways to resist. Their defiance unfolds quietly behind closed doors: in homes, secret classrooms, and in private celebrations.


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Kiana Hayeri
About the photographer

Kiana Hayeri (b.1988) grew up in Tehran, Iran, and moved to Toronto, Canada as a teenager. Having taken up photography to bridge cultural and linguistic gaps, her work often explores topics such as migration, adolescence, identity and sexuality in war-torn countries. She is currently based in Sarajevo, covering stories...

Read the full biography
Technical information
Shutter Speed

1/125

Focal length

24.0-70.0mm

F-Stop

f/2.8

ISO

200

Camera

Nikon D850

Jury comment

This work offers a vital perspective on women’s lives in Afghanistan, moving beyond familiar narratives to capture their daily realities with depth and care. The photographer’s long-term commitment and close engagement result in an intimate portrayal, where the vibrant colors, textures, and details of their surroundings reflect the richness of each woman and her creativity. This interior vibrancy contrasts sharply with the growing restrictions on their freedoms— affecting education, movement, dress codes, and work. The work is both beautiful and deeply symbolic.