Shokoufeh Jafari was only two when her family fled Afghanistan in 1998, as the Taliban closed in on the Bamiyan valley. Now 29, she and her sisters Maryam, 23, and Mandana, 20, have built a life in Shiraz, Iran, defined by resilience and a passion for Kyokushin karate.
Their father, a former military officer, encouraged them to take up the sport. Shokoufeh began training at 13, followed by her sisters. 'He enrolled us in private karate classes because it wasn't offered at school,' she said. The sisters went on to join the Afghan national team and compete internationally, with their crowning achievement in 2019 at the Asian Kyokushin Karate Championship in Shiraz.
But the Taliban's return to power in August 2021 shattered their dreams of returning home. All organised sports for women in Afghanistan were halted. 'It was as if our efforts, our achievements and our future were erased overnight,' Shokoufeh said.
While Iran has offered them some freedom, the sisters face increasing hostility. Between June and July 2024, an estimated 800,000 undocumented Afghan refugees were deported from Iran. Mandana said she faces harassment and police scrutiny daily. 'I go out every day with fear,' she said.
Despite the uncertainty, the sisters run a small dojo on the outskirts of Shiraz, teaching karate to Afghan girls. 'We teach more than martial arts; we teach courage, resilience and self-belief,' Shokoufeh said. At home, they keep Afghan culture alive through traditional carpets, music and celebrations.
