Anneke de Jager

Shamsia Hassani, Afghanistan's first female graffiti artist and lecturer at Kabul University, is known internationally for her murals depicting the identity of females in a male-dominated society.

"Nightmare, Afghanistan 2021" was her response to the swift takeover by the Taliban and the fear that the freedoms girls and women have won since 2001 will be crushed.

When the Taliban last ruled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, women could not work, girls were not allowed to attend school and women had to cover their face and be accompanied by a male relative if they wanted to venture out of their homes. Music, TV and cinema were banned.

Only four countries recognised the Taliban when it was last in power: neighbouring Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Turkmenistan. However, some countries such as China have suggested they may recognise the Taliban as a legitimate regime.