Beneath the Burka
Embracing their newfound freedoms, the women
of Afghanistan have come forward to let the rest of the
world take a revealing peek into their secret lives.
by jim mendrinos
edited by frank santopadre
photos by david neff
Name: Mujima
Turn-ons: Running water
Turn-offs: War, sarcasm, Tim Allen movies
Three things on my nightstand: My pakol hat, autographed photo of General Tommy Franks, The Nanny Diaries
Name: Zaranj
Turn-ons: Being permitted to laugh
Turn-offs: Stray Tomahawk missiles, floggings, hairy backs
Last books read: The Koran, Pashto to English Dictionary, The South Beach Diet
Name: Fatima
Turn-ons: Sewing circles, listening to Radio Free Afghanistan
Turn-offs: Spitting camels, being sold into marriage
Ambitions: To live to the age of 40
Name: Shukria
Turn-ons: Zerbaghali music, loveless sex, dandelions
Turn-offs: Rainy days, pushy soldiers
I can’t live without: My goat cheese-flavored lip balm
Name: Shindand
Turn-ons: The Feast of the Sacrifice, Mel Gibson, Allah
Turn-offs: Drought, famine, loud snoring
My ideal first date: Touching a boy and being allowed to keep my hands
Name: Kamila
Turn-ons: Gender equality, education, Jell-O shots
Turn-offs: Rigged elections, public disembowelings
Hobbies: Searching for my belongings in the rubble
Name: Tahmeena
Turn-ons: The Pilgrimage to Mecca, newborn kittens
Turn-offs: Death by stoning
I’m told I look like: Maulaana Jalalludin Balkhi, Khushal Khan Khattak, Hilary
Just look how far these poor women have come since the
fall of the Taliban. However, still fearful to show their
beautiful faces.
