A Generation of Afghan Widows

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KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/3/18 | As Rahila's contractions speed up, her daughter, Sofia (2), starts comprehending that her mother is in pain and soon will be leaving the house. She kept curling up quietly against her mother, as she counted the hours to go to the maternity clinic. In Early hours of August 3rd, Rahila went into labor, by 1 pm her contractions have sped up and she gave birth to a daughter at 5:30 pm. Three months before her delivery, on Sofia's 2nd birthday, Rahila lost her husband and the father to her two daughters. Shams (37) was killed by Taliban in Ghazni province. At the time, Rahila was 5 months pregnant at the time. Kiana Hayeri for the New York Times

KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/3/18 | As Rahila's contractions speed up, her daughter, Sofia... READ ON

A Generation of Afghan Widows - KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/10/18 | Mashal (26) takes her 3...

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KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/10/18 | Mashal (26) takes her 3 year old son, Benyamin, to the balcony every time he asks after his father. Mashal points out to a star: "Your father is resting there". Everyday, ever since the death of her husband, Sabawoon (27), Benyamin starts acting out around the time his father would arrive home in the afternoon and it is a daily struggle for Mashal, who was 8 months pregnant at the time of his death, to keep her son calm and occupied. Sabawoon, a journalist for Azadi Radio, was killed in a double suicide blast in the Afghan capital on April 30, 2018. It was the deadliest single attack involving journalists in Afghanistan since at least 2002 which took the lives of 9 journalists. Kiana Hayeri for the New York Times

KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/10/18 | Mashal (26) takes her 3 year old son, Benyamin, to the... READ ON

A Generation of Afghan Widows - DOAGU VILLAGE | AFGHANISTAN | 8/27/18 | Fatana (24)...

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DOAGU VILLAGE | AFGHANISTAN | 8/27/18 | Fatana (24) swings the cradle of her 46 day old daughter, Esraa, in an attempt to put her to sleep. She was 5 months pregnant when her husband, Amanat Khan (27) and an ANP officer, was shot in fightings against Taliban in Niazi Village, not too far from their home village. Kiana Hayeri for the New York Times

DOAGU VILLAGE | AFGHANISTAN | 8/27/18 | Fatana (24) swings the cradle of her 46 day old... READ ON

A Generation of Afghan Widows - KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 7/26/18 | Sofia (2) plays quietly...

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KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 7/26/18 | Sofia (2) plays quietly at her favorite corner of the house where a pile of tushaks beneath the photos of her father, serve her as a slide. Her father, Shams (37) was killed 3 months earlier on her birthday. Unable to fully comprehend his departure, in early days, Sofia restlessly asked for her father. Recently, she's started calling her uncle "dad". Sofia is expecting a baby sister any day. Kiana Hayeri for the New York Times

KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 7/26/18 | Sofia (2) plays quietly at her favorite corner of the... READ ON

A Generation of Afghan Widows - KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/3/18 | Sofia (2) puts her head...

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KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/3/18 | Sofia (2) puts her head out of the window upon arrival of her mom, Rahila (22) and her newborn sister just before midnight. With excitement and joy she screamed out of the window "Mom! Baby!" Her father, Shams (37) was killed 3 months earlier on her birthday. In Early hours of August 3rd, Rahila went into labor, by 1 pm her contractions have sped up and she gave birth to a daughter at 5:30 pm. Three months before her delivery, on Sofia's 2nd birthday, Rahila lost her husband and the father to her two daughters. Shams (37) was killed by Taliban in Ghazni province. At the time, Rahila was 5 months pregnant at the time. Kiana Hayeri for the New York Times

KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/3/18 | Sofia (2) puts her head out of the window upon arrival of... READ ON

A Generation of Afghan Widows - KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/3/18 | Sofia's first interaction...

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KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/3/18 | Sofia's first interaction with her newborn sister, upon their arrival at home before midnight. Her father, Shams (37) was killed 3 months earlier on her birthday. In Early hours of August 3rd, Rahila went into labor, by 1 pm her contractions have sped up and she gave birth to a daughter at 5:30 pm. Three months before her delivery, on Sofia's 2nd birthday, Rahila lost her husband and the father to her two daughters. Shams (37) was killed by Taliban in Ghazni province. At the time, Rahila was 5 months pregnant at the time. Kiana Hayeri for the New York Times

KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/3/18 | Sofia's first interaction with her newborn sister, upon... READ ON

A Generation of Afghan Widows - KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/10/18 | Mashal (26) attends her 4...

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KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/10/18 | Mashal (26) attends her 4 months old son, Sarferaz, in their apartment in Kabul. Her husband, Sabawoon (27) and a journalist for Azadi Radio, was killed in a double suicide blast in the Afghan capital on April 30, 2018, while Mashal was 8 months pregnant. It was the deadliest single attack involving journalists in Afghanistan since at least 2002 which took the lives of 9 journalists. Kiana Hayeri for the New York Times

KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/10/18 | Mashal (26) attends her 4 months old son, Sarferaz, in... READ ON

A Generation of Afghan Widows - KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/25/18 | Rahila (22) breastfeeds...

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KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/25/18 | Rahila (22) breastfeeds her 22-day-old daughter, Shamsia, who was named after her father Shams. Her sister, Reyhana, and her father-in-law had traveled all the way from their village in Ghazni to visit Rahila and her newborn daughter. While 5 months pregnant, Rahila's husband, Shams (37), was killed by Taliban in Ghazni province. Kiana Hayeri for the New York Times

KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/25/18 | Rahila (22) breastfeeds her 22-day-old daughter, Shamsia,... READ ON

A Generation of Afghan Widows - KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/25/18 | 22 days after the birth...

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KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/25/18 | 22 days after the birth of Shamsia, named after her father, Sofia slowly gets used to the presence of a new baby in the house. At times she is affectionate towards her and at other times with spite. On Sofia's 2nd birthday, her father, Shams (37), was killed by Taliban in Ghazni province. At the time, Rahila was 5 months pregnant at the time. Kiana Hayeri for the New York Times

KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/25/18 | 22 days after the birth of Shamsia, named after her... READ ON

A Generation of Afghan Widows - KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/25/18 | Rahila (22) quietly...

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KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/25/18 | Rahila (22) quietly stands by her kitchen, 22 days after she gave birth to her daughter, whom they named Shamsia, after her Father, Shams. On Sofia's 2nd birthday, her father, Shams (37), was killed by Taliban in Ghazni province. At the time, Rahila was 5 months pregnant. Kiana Hayeri for the New York Times

KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/25/18 | Rahila (22) quietly stands by her kitchen, 22 days after... READ ON

A Generation of Afghan Widows - DOAGU VILLAGE | AFGHANISTAN | 8/27/18 | Fatana (24) sits...

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DOAGU VILLAGE | AFGHANISTAN | 8/27/18 | Fatana (24) sits with her 4 children inside their small room at her in-laws that she and her late husband used to live in. She was 5 months pregnant when her husband, Amanat Khan (27) and an ANP officer, was shot in fightings against Taliban in Niazi Village, not too far from their home village. Kiana Hayeri for the New York Times

DOAGU VILLAGE | AFGHANISTAN | 8/27/18 | Fatana (24) sits with her 4 children inside their... READ ON

A Generation of Afghan Widows - DOAGU VILLAGE | AFGHANISTAN | 8/27/18 | Aziza, in her...

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DOAGU VILLAGE | AFGHANISTAN | 8/27/18 | Aziza, in her 60s, mother of Amanat Khan (27) breaks into tear every time the name of her son is brought up. He ANP officer, was shot in fightings against Taliban in Niazi Village, not too far from their home village. He is survived by his wife and their four children, the youngest being 46 days old, who was orphaned before she was even born. Kiana Hayeri for the New York Times

DOAGU VILLAGE | AFGHANISTAN | 8/27/18 | Aziza, in her 60s, mother of Amanat Khan (27)... READ ON

A Generation of Afghan Widows - KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/25/18 | Sofia quietly dazes out...

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KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/25/18 | Sofia quietly dazes out of the window, while her mother breastfeed her newborn sister, 22 days after the birth of Shamsia, named after her father, Sofia slowly gets used to the presence of a new baby in the house. At times she is affectionate towards her and at other times with spite. On Sofia's 2nd birthday, her father, Shams (37), was killed by Taliban in Ghazni province. At the time, Rahila was 5 months pregnant at the time. Kiana Hayeri for the New York Times

KABUL | AFGHANISTAN | 8/25/18 | Sofia quietly dazes out of the window, while her mother... READ ON

Kiana Hayeri
Visual Storyteller

Kiana Hayeri

Iranian-Canadian photographer, focusing on migration, identity and sexuality in societies dealing with oppression or conflict.

Kiana Hayeri Visual Storyteller

Kiana Hayeri

Iranian-Canadian photographer, focusing on migration, identity and sexuality in societies dealing with oppression or conflict.

Kiana Hayeri
Visual Storyteller