Proximities | Zahra Joya and Amie Ferris Rotman - Even in exile, Zahra Joya won't bow to the Taliban

In this week's episode, we're joined by Zahra Joya and Amie Ferris Rotman, who have co-authored a new book, "The Vanishing Girl of Kabul." 

The book tells the remarkable story of Zahra's determined and fearless journey into journalism in a patriarchal society, which resulted in her establishing Rukhshana Media, one of Afghanistan's first female-led newsrooms. 

Zahra was forced to flee her country after the Taliban returned to power in 2021 and threatened her life and the lives of other female journalists. But she continues to run Rukhshana Media from exile in London, relying on a brave group of women reporting underground in Afghanistan.

"The Vanishing Girl of Kabul" is a tale of resilience and profound courage as Afghan women continue to resist the Taliban's system of gender apartheid. 

Buy "The Vanishing Girl of Kabul" here.

Rukshana Media: https://rukhshana.com/en/ 

Amie's website: https://www.amieferrisrotman.com/ 

The Proximities newsletter: https://www.proximities.news/ 

Barry is on X here: https://x.com/malonebarry 

And on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/malonebarry/ 

Creators and Guests

Host

Barry Malone

Independent Journalist

Guest

Amie Ferris-Rotman

Award-winning journalist, editor and author. Previously Reuters, Washington Post, New Lines Mag, via Moscow, Kabul and London

Producer

David Tarbox

Podcast Producer

Guest

Zahra Joya

Journalist, Author and Founder of Rukhshana Media

What is Proximities?

Barry Malone talks to the international journalists covering the stories we rarely hear about. Strictly non-Western news.