Steve McCurry first went to Afghanistan just before the Soviet invasion. He was there when the Soviets were driven out. Over decades, he fell in love with the country and its people — hospitable, funny, generous, alive.
He has watched what has happened since 2021 with horror.
In January 2026, the Taliban passed a law making it legal for an Afghan man to beat his wife — provided he doesn't break her bones. McCurry's response is unequivocal: "You wouldn't even do that to a dog. That kind of behaviour is unacceptable."
In this conversation, one of the world's great photographers talks about Afghanistan across half a century — the country he knew, the people he loved, and the women now living under more than 250 Taliban edicts stripping them of the right to work, study, move, and speak.
He also talks about Azada Women — The Scheherazade Foundation's campaign to fund internet access for women inside Afghanistan. One hundred dollars connects a woman for a year.
🔗 Support the campaign: crowdfunder.co.uk/p/azada-women
🌍 Learn more: sf.charity/azada-women
📧 Contact: info@sf.charity
The Scheherazade Foundation is a UK-based cultural organisation harnessing the power of traditional stories and wisdom to address modern global challenges.
#AfghanWomen #Afghanistan #AzadaWomen #SteveMcCurry #WomensRights #HumanRights #Crowdfunder
What is The Scheherazade Foundation Mini Podcast?
Hosted by Tahir Shah, the Scheherazade Foundation Podcast brings you conversations with thinkers, artists, and changemakers working at the intersection of culture, justice and the human imagination.
The Foundation takes its name from the great storyteller of the Arabian Nights — and like Scheherazade herself, we believe that stories have the power to transform the world.
Our conversations begin with the Foundation's Azada Women project, supporting Afghan women and girls at a moment of profound crisis, and reach outward from there to wherever the most important work is being done.
Short, focused, and always worth your time.