By Mohammad Alias Hassany, human rights defender and IDREAM project participant

Editor’s note: CVT’s IDREAM project supports human rights defenders (HRDs) living in exile through training and mentorship in strategic advocacy, psychosocial resilience and integrated security. Recently, participants worked with the CVT program team to create a quilt made up of unique squares that provide a narrative of activism and solidarity from around the world. Read more about the IDREAM quilt project here.

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This quilt bears one word: “Resilience,” inspired by my journey of being in exile and resonating with the stories of many Afghan human rights defenders in exile.

The August 2021 collapse of Afghanistan was a traumatic event that impacted a generation. For two decades, civil society, free media and freedom of speech flourished with technical and financial support from the international community. But with the sudden withdrawal of international troops, the Taliban’s swift takeover turned dreams into nightmares overnight.

I was one of many human rights defenders in imminent danger. As the news spread like wildfire, I knew I had to act fast. I had to disappear—destroying documents, erasing hard drives, and wiping clean my online presence. The fear was palpable, yet there was no time to be paralyzed by it. We had to escape, and the clock was ticking.

In those two harrowing weeks of evacuation, many countries, including the European Union and the United States, extended a lifeline, helping to evacuate human rights defenders and their families. The scramble for safety was chaotic. I remember mapping out escape routes in my mind, constantly adapting to the changing circumstances, contacting whomever I knew or whatever network I had, including international non-profit organizations working for the protection of human rights defenders. The uncertainty was a heavy burden, but amidst the chaos, I was not alone. Hundreds of other HRDs were taking the same desperate measures, hoping for a miracle.

The fear was palpable, yet there was no time to be paralyzed by it. We had to escape, and the clock was ticking.”

Leaving Afghanistan was heart-wrenching. The country we had worked so hard to build crumbled before our eyes. The sleepless nights and relentless stress took their toll, but the real challenge was just beginning. We had to start over in a new country, navigate new systems and cope with the trauma of our abrupt displacement. The weight of responsibility was immense; each of us had families who relied on us for strength and stability.

Yet, in the midst of this turmoil, I witnessed something extraordinary. Human rights defenders, despite their suffering, began to connect. Networks that once flourished in Afghanistan found new life across borders. Advocacy campaigns were rekindled, and efforts to raise funds for those left behind were set into motion. Together with ten other Afghan HRDs, I co-founded the Afghanistan European Human Rights Defenders Network (AE-HRDN), a platform that allowed us to raise our collective voices about the dire human rights situation in Afghanistan and network with other like-minded civil society organizations based in Europe. The resilience of our community was a beacon of hope. It was as if, in our collective struggle, we found the strength to rise again.

Yet, in the midst of this turmoil, I witnessed something extraordinary. Human rights defenders, despite their suffering, began to connect.”

This journey, fraught with peril and heartbreak, revealed the true essence of resilience. It wasn’t just a word—it was the fabric of our existence, woven into every act of defiance and every step towards rebuilding. As I reflect on those days, I am reminded of the quilt of resilience that wraps around us, providing warmth and hope in the darkest of times.

This quilt became the foundation of my IDREAM, a testament to the unyielding spirit of Afghan human rights defenders. Our resilience is not a mere tale of survival; it is a story of relentless hope, boundless courage and an unwavering commitment to justice. In sharing this story, I hope to inspire others to see that even in the face of unimaginable adversity, the human spirit can rise, connect and create a brighter future. I thank IDREAM colleagues for their wonderful program and this initiative.