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Investigative

A collection of 25 posts

Education, Still Out of Reach for Most Afghans

Education, Still Out of Reach for Most Afghans

Today we’ve published our first article with the support of Afghan Witness, “Education, an Afghan Conundrum” examines how religious and cultural biases prevented many women from going to school in the period before the first Taliban government. In the coming weeks and months, we will investigate where schools are

Education, an Afghan Conundrum

Access to Education

Education, an Afghan Conundrum

They were told school is not for them, that it’s bad for a girl to seek education, and were made to sit at home at a young age. Now, these Afghan women above 40 years in age share accounts of their crushed hopes.

Hopeless Brides and Refugee Grooms

Hopeless Brides and Refugee Grooms

#Afghan women lament the exorbitant dowry amounts incurred after their engagement, saying “absurd” cultural norms create a variety of issues, including domestic violence and termination of their marriage.

Mental Illness, A Silent Enemy

Mental Illness, A Silent Enemy

Mental illness has plagued Afghanistan for decades due to war and despite a relative peace returning to the country, unemployment, poverty, and uncertainty about the future continues to exacerbate the effect of mental illness on Afghans.

The Blind See More Than We Realize

The Blind See More Than We Realize

In Afghanistan, although roughly five percent of the population are visually impaired, ignorance and intolerance by their peers often lead to discrimination and limited opportunities. However, some like Abdul Jalil Shirzad, have found their place in society.

No Jobs, No Food, No Hope

No Jobs, No Food, No Hope

Afghans across the country lament the lack of employment while voicing concern over the increasing poverty.

Afghan Drug Crisis, in the Words of Users

Afghan Drug Crisis, in the Words of Users

Rampant poverty and the increasing unemployment rate, due to Afghanistan’s continuing economic crisis are playing a major role in the increase in the number of people with a substance use disorder. In Badakhshan alone, users have increased from 40,000 to 50,000 in the last year and a half.

Afghanistan’s Problem With Dogs

Afghanistan’s Problem With Dogs

Reporting by Razia Jafari and Abdul Karim Azim, written by Abdul Ahad Poya, edited by Mohammad J. Alizada & Brian J. Conley Alive-in is a not-for-profit media agency that mentors journalists from underrepresented communities to increase local and international understanding. Click the button below to receive our stories directly in

Fear on Every Corner, the Final Days of the U.S. War in Afghanistan

Fear on Every Corner, the Final Days of the U.S. War in Afghanistan

In firsthand accounts, Afghan civilians and U.S. Marines describe the chaos and desperation outside Kabul's airport. The evacuation was marred by missteps, violence, and tragedy. Then a suicide bombing ripped through the crowd, killing and injuring hundreds. A bombing U.S. officials knew was coming. By: Brian

Little Hope the Taliban Can Solve Afghanistan's Numerous Crises

Little Hope the Taliban Can Solve Afghanistan's Numerous Crises

Today we ask Afghans for their honest opinions about the current crises.

Violence Against Journalists Double since Taliban Takeover

Violence Against Journalists Double since Taliban Takeover

Reporting by Abdul Ahad Poya, Nazar Mohammad Razmal Zaman, Abdul Karim Azim, and Mirzahussain Sadid, Written by Mohammad Jawad Alizada, and edited by Brian J. Conley KABUL – Cases of violence against journalists in Afghanistan have more than doubled since the Taliban victory last August, an annual report by Afghan media

Taliban House-to-House Raids Spark Widespread Criticism

Taliban House-to-House Raids Spark Widespread Criticism

The Taliban launched a house-to-house search operation in Kabul and adjacent provinces, leading to widespread domestic and global criticism.

Afghan Universities Reopen with New Gender Rules

Afghan Universities Reopen with New Gender Rules

Afghan students return to universities six months after the Taliban took over the country. But the atmosphere is both of despair an hope among students.

Garbage, Garbage, Everywhere

Garbage, Garbage, Everywhere

The lack of a garbage collection system due to inattention from the municipality, as well as the public’s lack of awareness have all joined forces in increasing Nili’s problem with trash.

Taliban Flog Civilian Accused of Adultery

Taliban Flog Civilian Accused of Adultery

Taliban flogged an Afghan civilian accused of adultery in south-central Oruzgan province last Tuesday.

Struggling with Poverty and Trauma, Millions of Afghans Turn to Drugs

Struggling with Poverty and Trauma, Millions of Afghans Turn to Drugs

Around 6 million Afghans are estimated to be addicted to drugs. Afghanistan is also the largest producer of opium in the world. Alive in Afghanistan talks to those most affected by drug use, the individuals and their families.

Afghans Call President Biden's Executive Order Illogical and Unjust

Afghans Call President Biden's Executive Order Illogical and Unjust

“People are selling their children due to hunger” Mr. Qasim Ekhtiari, a 40 year-old professor from Daikund told Alive in Afghanistan, expressing his shock and anger at an announcement by President Joe Biden last week.

Suicide Bomber Who Killed U.S. Troops and Afghans "Likely" Used Unguarded Route to Kabul Airport Gate

Suicide Bomber Who Killed U.S. Troops and Afghans "Likely" Used Unguarded Route to Kabul Airport Gate

By: Brian J. Conley, Mohammad J. Alizada, Samira Nuhzat, Abdul Ahad Poya and Mirzahussain Sadid, Alive in Afghanistan, Joshua Kaplan and Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, and Lynzy Billing, for ProPublica Paths left unsecured by U.S. military sped the evacuation of American citizens and Afghan allies. The attack killed 13 U.

Report: U.S. Marines Returned Fire After Suicide Bombing, but No Enemies Were Shooting at Them

Investigative Featured

Report: U.S. Marines Returned Fire After Suicide Bombing, but No Enemies Were Shooting at Them

by Brian J. Conley and Mohammad J. Alizada, Alive in Afghanistan, and Joshua Kaplan [https://www.propublica.org/people/joshua-kaplan] and Joaquin Sapien [https://www.propublica.org/people/joaquin-sapien], ProPublica [https://www.propublica.org/] This article was co-published with ProPublica [https://www.propublica.org/article/report-u-s-marines-returned-fire-after-suicide-bombing-but-no-enemies-were-shooting-at-them] , a nonprofit newsroom that

When Needing to Go Can Cost A Hospital Trip

When Needing to Go Can Cost A Hospital Trip

Reporting by Abdul Karim Azim, Nazar Mohammad Razmal Zaman, written by Abdul Ahad Poya, edited by Mohammad J. Alizada and Brian J. Conley AFGHANISTAN — Afghanistan is traditionally a religiously conservative country that fell to the Taliban, a militant group fighting the previous Afghan government and its allies since the American

Sanitation, Kabul’s Mountain of a Problem

Sanitation, Kabul’s Mountain of a Problem

Written by Abdul Ahad Poya, edited by Mohammad J. Alizada and Brian J. Conley “When it rains we take the water, and wash the fecal matter down the slope, which creates a huge annoyance for people, but if we had proper sewage system, this wouldn’t happen,” this is a

Infant Malnutrition Overwhelms Afghan Hospitals

Infant Malnutrition Overwhelms Afghan Hospitals

Written by Nazar Mohammad “Razmal Zaman,” edited by Mohammad J. Alizada and Brian J. Conley KANDAHAR — Health workers in Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar province are combating increasing malnutrition among children while millions of Afghans lack the ability to feed their families on a daily basis. The beds at Kandahar city’

Fear of Shadows; a joke that is now the truth

Fear of Shadows; a joke that is now the truth

Editorial by Abdul Ahad Poya, Edited by Mohammad J. Alizada and Brian J. Conley The atmosphere of Afghanistan; especially Kabul, the capital city with a population of six million, resembles its smoky weather: poisonous and tormenting. These days Kabul has once again become one of the most polluted capitals in

Every Death Leaves Someone Behind

Human Rights Featured

Every Death Leaves Someone Behind

Written by Mohammad Jawad Alizada with reporting by our team in Afghanistan, edited by Brian Conley KABUL — “Najibullah died after falling in the canal outside Abbey gate, his friends could not take him out of the area due to the chaos following the blast,” his brother Irfanullah Safai told Alive

Yusef Rababa, Colleague of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

Yusef Rababa, Colleague of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi

Produced by Brian Conley AMMAN—After the death of Abu Musab Az-Zarqawi, we have been searching for men who were colleagues with him, or knew him, to gain a better perspective on the man, and his life, outside of the Media and his actions related to terrorism and the war