A 13-year-old Afghan girl has been arrested by Taliban forces in Helmand province for working in male attire, shedding light on the harsh realities faced by women under Taliban rule.

According to foreign media reports, the girl, identified as Noriya, had been employed at a local café under the name “Noor Ahmad” for the past three years. In a video that went viral on social media, Noriya explained that she had taken up the job to support her family after the death of her father. Severe poverty forced her to disguise herself as a boy to work, as Afghan women face strict restrictions on employment, movement, and education under the current regime.

Noriya said she had tried to conceal her identity, but her secret was eventually discovered, leading to her arrest. The incident has sparked outrage on social media and renewed attention to the struggles of Afghan women, many of whom have lost employment opportunities in both public and private sectors since the Taliban returned to power.

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The case highlights the ongoing challenges and dangers Afghan women face while trying to earn a livelihood. Human rights advocates argue that such arrests reflect the broader suppression of women’s rights, and they call for international attention to the worsening humanitarian and social conditions in the country.

Noriya’s story has become a symbol of the resilience and hardships of Afghan women, showing the lengths they are forced to go to support their families in the face of oppressive restrictions.