How did an Afghan woman journalist’s writing resonate in China?

In a world where borders often seem to divide rather than connect, the story of Afghan journalist Khadija Haidary’s writing resonating with Chinese readers is a testament to the power of empathy and the enduring human spirit. When Haidary fled the Taliban, she could never have imagined that her words would reach readers thousands of miles away in China, yet they did, sparking emotional responses and small acts of cross-border solidarity that empowered her to move forward amid her uncertain situation.

The journey began in October 2024, when a Chinese journalist named Weilin Hong translated and published Haidary’s month-long email correspondence on a WeChat account called “Positive Links” (正面連結). This medium-sized account focuses on social issues, aiming to enlighten Chinese readers about the challenges faced by Afghan women under the Taliban’s rule. The account’s platform became a bridge, connecting Haidary’s harrowing experiences with a global audience that was both captivated and moved by her story.

The Taliban, an Islamic militant organization that ruled Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001, recaptured Kabul in 2021 after the U.S. withdrew its troops. Haidary’s emails provided a firsthand account of the hardships faced by women in Afghanistan between 2021 and 2024. She described how women were forcibly removed from their jobs and barred from walking the streets alone. Women were denied access to medical care from male doctors, while also being blocked from attending medical schools. Girls were expelled from schools, parks, and swimming pools, and many were forced into child marriages. Journalists, including Haidary herself, faced imprisonment and even execution for reporting the truth.

These were not abstract statistics for Haidary; they were her lived experiences. She lost her job, male friends, and social life, bearing witness to the daily harassment of women. Her words painted a stark picture of a society under the Taliban’s oppressive regime, one that many Chinese readers had never encountered but were now compelled to confront through her writing.

In China, where civil society is tightly regulated and spontaneous cross-border humanitarian support is rare, Haidary’s letters sparked an unexpected cross-border solidarity with the oppressed women from far away. Rather than forming a visible movement, these responses took shape as quiet, individual acts, revealing how solidarity adapts under constraint. Chinese readers, moved by Haidary’s story, responded with small but meaningful gestures of support. Some offered financial assistance, while others shared her work with their networks, amplifying her voice beyond the initial translation.

Haidary’s writing evolved into a book titled “A Letter from an Afghan Woman,” further cementing its impact. The book’s publication in China not only provided a deeper dive into her experiences but also highlighted the universal struggle for human rights and dignity. It served as a reminder that, despite geographical and political barriers, the human connection can transcend borders, inspiring acts of empathy and solidarity.

This story underscores the importance of storytelling in fostering understanding and empathy. Haidary’s words, translated and shared by Weilin Hong, reached a global audience, igniting a spark of compassion that extended beyond the written page. The small acts of support from Chinese readers provided Haidary with the strength to persevere in her uncertain situation, demonstrating the power of collective humanity in the face of adversity.

In a world where divisions often seem insurmountable, the cross-border empathy between Chinese readers and Afghan women showcases the enduring resilience of the human spirit. Haidary’s story is a poignant reminder that, even in the darkest of times, the power of words and the bonds of empathy can bridge the widest of gaps, offering hope and solidarity in the most unexpected of places.