Among all the bedlam coming out of Afghanistan over the retiring couplet of weeks , there ’s one story that hits particularly hard : that of the all - distaff Afghan robotics squad . They hit the headlineslast weekwhen they “ begged ” the Canadian government for sanctuary as their homeland fall to the Taliban , andwithin daysnews had pause that precisely half of the 20 - woman team had made it out of Afghanistan to Qatar .
Now , five more team members have successfully take to the woods – this time to Mexico . Arriving belatedly on Tuesday August 24 , along with more than 100 diarist also fly the Taliban , theywere greetedwith “ the warmest welcome ” at Mexico City ’s international airdrome by Mexican Deputy Foreign Minister Martha Delgado .
“ They will be find with enceinte affection by the mass of Mexico , ” Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrardsaidat a newsworthiness conference about the refugee roboticists . “ They are bearer of a dream : to show that we can have an egalitarian , biovular and gender - equal world . ”
Although the Taliban havepublicly pledgedto prioritize women ’s right and girls ’ education , their previous rule was score byharsh oppressionof cleaning woman . Girls were banned from teaching , women from work , and both confront violent and oftenfatal punishmentsfor pushing the Taliban ’s extreme gender rules . Already , less than two weeks after the organisation took control of the country , there arereportsof girls ’ schools being close down once again in Afghanistan . Working women havebeen orderedto stay home , andstoriesare being shared of girls as untested as twelve being forced to marry Taliban fighters .
The roboticists ’ arrival in Mexico was thanks to an “ extensive outside effort and coordination from a radical of military volunteer , ” according toone volunteerwho ask to stay on anonymous to keep the prophylactic of household still under Taliban ascendence . Tuesday ’s comer mark the first mathematical group to make it to Mexico , where last week Ebrard declare that the country was “ processing of the first refugee covering of Afghanistani citizens , specially women and girls who have request it . ” Anumberof countries , the US include , have pledge to take in Afghan refugees , but the routine seeking escape isphenomenal , and many nations have refused emergency entry .
At present some member of the robotics team are still in Afghanistan , accordingto team founder Roya Mahboob . While some in the countrycelebratedthe woman for their international realisation and innovation , others have accuse them of dressing immodestly while abroad , and Mahboob says those who rest face a worrying future . Some of the team members are as young as 14 .
“ We are very happy to be here and it is an honor that the politics of Mexico has … saved our living , ” squad appendage Fatemah Qaderyansaidupon arrival to her new home . “ From now on forrad we will have chance for many more achievements in our animation , and thus be part of the engagement for a better life . ”
“ It take a crap us skittish that it is exactly [ our ] achievements that now put our families in risk , ” shesaid .
