From loss to rebirth
Former Afghan judge Mahnaz Raheeq Kohistani fled the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021. She shares the pain of loss – and the struggles of rebuilding her life in Ireland
There are days in every person’s life that remain etched in memory forever. For me, 14 August 2021 was not only unforgettable, but a turning point – the day my world collapsed and, at the same time, a new path quietly began.
On that day, I lost everything: my home, my profession, my safety, and the country I had loved and served for years.
As a judge in Afghanistan, I had spent years on the front lines of justice, fighting against corruption, violence, inequality, and especially violence against women.
For me, being a judge was not just a job: it was a deep moral responsibility. But the same commitment that guided me also made me a target.
Letting go
When everything suddenly fell apart, I had to flee, not only to save my life, but to protect my belief in justice, human dignity, and freedom.
In doing so, I left behind more than just my profession. I also left behind my family, loved ones, and even the person I was supposed to marry.
Letting go of that future, of love, of connection, of the life I had envisioned, was one of the hardest decisions I’ve ever made.
But when survival and protecting your soul become indistinguishable, the choice becomes painfully clear.
The months that followed felt like exile. When I arrived in Ireland, everything was unfamiliar. I didn’t speak the language. I didn’t understand the systems.
And I carried with me memories that often felt heavier than I could bear. The loneliness, the grief, the sense of disconnection – they were my constant companions.
And yet, even in that darkness, a faint light remained.
Different lens
Today, I work with the Courts Service, and I view my past through a different lens.
Being part of this institution, one that upholds justice, equality, and the dignity of all people, is not just a professional opportunity for me. It’s a way to reclaim my voice, my identity, and my hope.
Though I have been physically separated from my husband for over three years, and the weight of this long distance can sometimes feel overwhelming, I will never allow my hope or my determination to be reunited with him to fade.
I work alongside colleagues who lead with kindness, integrity, and respect. Here, I have felt that justice is not a distant dream – it is something we live and breathe. It is something we deliver together.
For me, this work has reawakened the purpose I once feared I had lost forever.
Rising again
The path here was far from easy. There were tears shed in silence, nights haunted by the past, and days when I doubted my worth. But with time, courage, and the support of people who saw my potential, I slowly began to rise again.
Now, when I look back on that day in August 2021, I don’t only grieve. I also remember it as the beginning of a new chapter.
I have learned that even in the most painful circumstances, the seed of hope can survive. It may take time to bloom, but it will.
To all those who believed in me, welcomed me, and gave me the chance to begin again: thank you. You didn’t just offer me a job, you helped restore my sense of belonging, dignity, and peace.
I may have lost everything once. But today, I have found something far more valuable: a renewed voice, a restored identity, and a new home in a community that truly values justice.
Mahnaz Raheeq Kohistani is a former Afghan judge who now works for the Courts Service.