The family, from Herat city, decided to leave the country in June after a relative was shot and killed on the street by Taliban forces. Several of them work with international aid organisations on issues such as women’s rights, and have continued to face threats. Since then, the Taliban have made sweeping advances, often taking control of districts without a fight. The stranded Herat family were unable to wash properly and ran out of money to eat properly during their ordeal, sleeping on the floor or on the airport’s benches. “We were threatened [by the Taliban] many times but we never thought about leaving Afghanistan before now,” said Farzad, a member of the family now stuck in Istanbul airport’s migration offices.

Source: The Guardian July 12, 2021 12:55 UTC