Always on
This project successfully funded on 8th November 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
Support Layla's Fight for Afghan Women's Rights
Oxford, England, United Kingdom
Aim
Layla is an Afghan women's rights defender who has fled persecution. I'm fundraising to keep her and her family safe.
Layla's Story
Layla* always dreamt of helping women to bring new life into the world and in August 2021, she was a year away from qualifying as an obstetrician-gynaecologist. She had recently become a mother herself, and was looking toward a bright future.
When the Taliban took power in Kabul on 15 August 2021, Layla’s medical programme was shut down with immediate effect. She joined a grassroots women's rights movement, calling for the rights to education, work, political participation, and freedom from violence. She organised peaceful demonstrations, online campaigns, and issued statements to the international community.
The movement is called The Unity and Solidarity of Afghan Women and its founder, Dr Zahra Haqparst Mohammadi featured in the film Bread & Roses produced by Malala Yousefzai and Jennifer Lawrence.
The Taliban responded to Layla’s activism, by arresting, detaining and beating her, and repeatedly issuing death threats against her and her family. Earlier this year, Layla fled to Pakistan, with her two young children, as she did not feel safe in Afghanistan.
Although she entered Pakistan legally, Layla's visa does not permit her to work and she is struggling to pay for food, diapers, rent, electricity and crucially visa costs. The family face risks of malnutrition, eviction, and deportation, which could be like a death sentence.
Despite these challenges Layla continues to organise and speak out for Afghan women’s rights from exile.
Zahra Mohammadi, the founder of the Unity and Solidarity of Afghan Women says:
“The brave women who’ve been resisting the Taliban since day one, are in immediate danger. Layla is one of them. Today, she and her family are in grave need. She risked everything for a better future for Afghanistan and now she and her children need us. Your donation — no matter how small — will help keep them, and the fight for women’s rights alive. Thank you.”
*Please note, Layla's name has been changed to protect her safety in case of deportation.
How Your Donation will Help
Every donation will help Layla cover the following costs for her family:
• Food & Hygiene (pullups/diapers, soap etc.)
• Rent & Electricity
• Visas
• Essential Medical care
• Phone credit/data (this is essential for contact with UNHCR and resettlement NGOs)
For example:**
- £10 / $12 – buys pullups/diapers for a week
- £25 / $40 – buys food for a week
- £35 / $45 - buys 1 month electricity and water
- £50 / $70 – could pay for a medical checkup
- £120 /$160 - buys 1 month of rent
- [Costs associated with Visa renewal are going up all the time]
** Figures shared above are estimates only. The GBP and USD amounts were converted from PKR and RS, calculated on the basis of the exchange rates on 15 August 2025, so actual rates may differ. The amounts shown have also been rounded up or down slightly to make things clear and simple.
How Funds will Reach Layla
Crowdfunder will send any funds raised (minus their fees) to a dedicated bank account in the UK. I will disburse the funds to Layla in tranches via Western Union or a similar money transfer company; I will keep proof of transfer and she will send me bills and receipts as evidence that the funds have been spent as agreed. I will send or post updates to supporters so that they can hear about the impact they are having. Please feel free to reach out with any questions about this.
Afterword by Aisha
I am a human rights practitioner with 15 years of professional experience in human rights, women's rights and humanitarianism. Layla came to my attention through previous work and I've been assisting her and her family on a pro bono basis (without charge) for several months.
I have been supporting Layla in applying for resettlement to safe third countries through legal routes under humanitarian schemes, and advocating for expedited UNHCR registration. But these avenues are extremely limited, they can take many months and time is running out for the family. The cold weather has hit hard and Layla fears for the future of her children. Right now her visa will expire 1st February and after this happens the family will have no legal protection from deportation without the funds to renew their visas.
These are desperate times for many - I understand you might not be in a position to donate and I don’t want to take away from other efforts to support people who need help at home or abroad. But women's rights are human rights and I can’t accept children going hungry or being unsafe. That’s why I've started this campaign.
In 2026, let's stand with Afghan women. Any support you can give is an act of kindness and solidarity and will be hugely appreciated by the family - it could save their lives. Thank you so much for reading, liking, sharing or donating to this campaign.
Your Kindness Crosses Borders
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made