The Taliban, which has taken control of Afghanistan, decapitated Mahjabin Hakimi, a player on the Afghan women's national volleyball team. A coach told "Farsi Independent" that Taliban militants killed an unnamed member of the Afghan youth volleyball national team. In an interview, coach Suraya Afzali (a pseudonym for her safety) stated that a player named Mahjabin Hakimi was killed by the Taliban earlier in October, but no one knew about the horrific crime because militants threatened her family into silence. Mahjabin played for the Kabul municipality volleyball club before the collapse of Ashraf Ghani's government and was a star of the club.
A few days ago, images emerged on social media that appeared to show her severed head and bloodied neck. The Afghan women's volleyball team coach mentioned that only two players managed to escape the country before the Taliban seized full control in August. Mahjabin Hakimi was among many unfortunate female athletes who were left behind and could not flee Afghanistan. Since their takeover, the Taliban has attempted to identify and hunt down female athletes. Afzali claimed that militants were particularly keen on targeting members of the Afghan women's volleyball team who had participated in international and national competitions and had previously appeared in media programs.
Afzali told "Farsi Independent": "All the players of the volleyball team and other female athletes are in a bad situation and in despair and fear. Everyone has been forced to flee and live underground." The Afghan women's volleyball team was established in 1978 and had long been a beacon of hope and empowerment for young girls in the country. However, Mahjabin's death has raised fears of targeted attacks against them by the Taliban. So far, the team's efforts to garner support from foreign organizations and countries to leave Afghanistan have been unsuccessful.
Last week, up to 100 female football players, including members of the national football team, and their family members were evacuated from Afghanistan. With the Taliban in control, all women’s activities in sports, politics, and social areas have ceased. The vast majority of Afghan girls remain banned from attending secondary school.
