Justice Remains Possible in Afghanistan

The ILF's Executive Director Jennifer Smith's letter to the editor was published in The New York Times on September 3, 2026, responding to recent reporting on Afghan girls continuing to pursue their education despite the Taliban’s ban.

The letter emphasizes that the idea that nothing can be done within Afghanistan to preserve rights is a dangerous misconception. The ILF has worked in Afghanistan since 2003 and remains active today. Afghan lawyers continue to defend people in court, challenging injustice case by case and demonstrating that the pursuit of justice remains possible even under extraordinary conditions.

Read Jennifer Smith’s Letter to the Editor in The New York Times →

Photo by Letizia Mariotti for the International Legal Foundation