More than 50 Surrey secondary students took their chants, posters and values to the busy, rainy streets to raise awareness of the dire situation in Afghanistan, where women's rights are rapidly dwindling.
L.A. Matheson Secondary has an increased refugee student population from Afghanistan. While they may be here, the issues going on in their former homes continue to to be felt regardless of the distance. This is why, with the help from a teacher, students from the Surrey school held a public demonstration to raise awareness for what is going on in Afghanistan.
"We have a lot of students here from the Middle East and North Africa who were really concerned about what鈥檚 going on in Palestine, that鈥檚 still ongoing and others interested in Indigenous issues and a host of other things," explained teacher Annie Ohana, at the school ahead of the protest on Monday (April 7).
"Afghan students came forward and spoke of their lived experiences in their beautiful homeland."
In Canada, women gained the right to attend school somewhere in the late 19th century to early 20th century. The last segregated school in the country was in Nova Scotia, which officially closed in 1983, one of only two provinces with Ontario to legislate racially segregated schools, according to the Canadian Encyclopedia.
While issues in equitable access to education continue to persist, residents of this country have the right to receive an education.
Contrast that with the situation in Afghanistan where the Taliban-ruled government has banned education for girls and women.
"With the federal election coming up, issues in Afghanistan absolutely matter in that," Ohana added, with the election set for April 28.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Afghanistan is the only country in the world prohibiting education for girls and women over the age of 12.
"There are a lot of laws coming down from the Taliban regime. Some of the most egregious is that women are not allowed to speak in public鈥� they鈥檙e not allowed to be seen," Ohana continued, speaking in Matheson's cafeteria to the classes that participated in the protest.
"What it鈥檚 called is gender apartheid that separates people so, so severely that one group doesn鈥檛 have any semblance of rights. Men also don鈥檛 have a whole lot of rights in Afghanistan, but they absolutely have more than the women do."
Ohana also drew attention to the women in the country fighting back against the regime, with some educators continuing to provide schooling to girls and women through online services, risking persecution.
"Going to school is not only the wish of Afghan women, it is the moral and human responsibility," said another Afghan student, Yasamine, who was part of the organizing group along with Abdul, who made informational sheets for students, and Nazanine, who spoke to the students in Pashto.
"I respectfully ask all decision makers to hear the voice of the girls who want an education and to create opportunity. Open the schools so you can open the future of Afghanistan and have freedom for everyone."
A student from the school who arrived from Afghanistan in September 2024 virtually called in to speak to students. The 16-year-old girl, Dunya, was due to being at risk of living with a foster family instead of her older brother in Surrey.
Dunya, a pseudonym, is recovering from hip surgery at home with her brother, thanks to a strong advocate who fought for her to not be placed elsewhere. Fighting chronic health concerns and now using a walker to move around while in recovery, Dunya is attending school virtually.
"She really wanted to be here today but she鈥檚 weak. The reality is, her bones are not that strong due to malnutrition over many years," Ohana said.
"When she was in Afghanistan, she would appear on the news, she would be in the public eye, so for her to continue doing this work while going through the physical challenges is pretty amazing... We鈥檙e living in a time where speaking up about issues like this is very hard. It鈥檚 not easy. People can attack you over this, governments can attack you over it."
After the speeches, the students took to the street adjacent their school with posters, large banners, flags and chants with rain coming down on them.
Almost immediately, dozens of vehicles blared their horns in support of the students' messages: 'End gender apartheid', 'Speak louder for those who can't', 'Afghan women need support' and more.
