In 1985, Sharbat Gula was on the cover of the magazine National Geographic in which his green eyes and intense gaze captured the attention of the entire world. This, in turn, gave her the opportunity to live as a refugee in Pakistan until 2016, when she had to return to her native country.
Today she is making world news again because her enigmatic green eyes have stopped shining and are only capable of reflecting the sadness to which the women of Afghanistan are being subjected to having to live under the Taliban regime and the restrictions that limit their lives only for be female.
Afghanistan is once again under the gaze of the world. The arrival of the Taliban regime to power brings great social changes, especially for women, who see their freedom restricted, a situation from which Sharbat Gula tried to flee but was unable to do so.
In 1985 and without her knowing it, Gula became the reflection of thousands of Afghan girls who tried to flee their country in search of a better chance at life after she was photographed by Steve McCurry, who took her image to the cover of one of the most important magazines in the world: National Geographic.
With the passage of time, the image of Gula gained popularity and Steve had no choice but to look for it to learn more about her and her life.
Steve waged a difficult battle to find Gula, but in the end he managed to find her whereabouts and what he saw left him completely stunned. Gluttony no longer had that lovely glint in her gaze. Although his eyes were still green, the light of hope was completely gone.
Gula had spent most of her life fleeing back and forth across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, dodging war, violence and inexplicable hatred of women. Along the way he lost family, friends and dreams. All while the world contemplated his photograph without knowing what was really happening.
Gula lost her mother, had to leave her home and hide in caves to survive. She married at age 13 to a man who did not love or respect her, had six children and has had to endure living in extreme poverty.
Her life as a refugee in Pakistan ended when she was discovered carrying documents under a false identity, which led to her spending time in jail. Due to these charges, in Afghanistan the death penalty would await her, but the Pakistani government lobbied for her to be protected by the Afghan government, citing humanitarian reasons, her deteriorating health and international symbol status for refugees.
Unfortunately, with the rise of the Taliban regime to power, her fate is now uncertain, but we hope that the light in her eyes does not continue to dim and that she and other women and girls can find a safe place, where they are allowed enjoy your freedom and your own life.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
