Somaia

Somaia Ramish is an activist, journalist, and poet, who came to the Netherlands from Afghanistan in 2021. Her poems reflect the oppression women in Afghanistan experience.
Her publication, Baamdaad – House of Poetry in Exile, will soon be released.

She has been active within Young Connected and has an important message to share. She experienced violence and discrimination just because of being a woman and now she wants to make a difference in this world by fighting for justice and equality for women. She strives for a world with no double standards regarding human rights, liberties and equality ideals, based on political considerations.

“Let’s try to have a world free of violence. A world that gives freedom and equality to all people! Let’s look at the fall of politics, don’t be silent and shout for justice!”

“I was not yet born
when Mother wrapped our country
into her bundle and abandoned her own self
so that my naval would not be tied
to the rope of war…
But
our nightly meals became
the hourly news of war.
Our cells recognized their own exile
in our suffering, pain and wounds.
We had never traveled before,
but at age nine I learned
the absurdity of geography.
At fourteen I untied mother’s bundle.
Its aroma enfolded me,
returned me
to my forefathers.
Now, my country is not
just the news of war; it is a madness
of geography that courses through my veins.
It’s a two-edged blade:
Death and Death.”

Check out Somaia’s Website for more information or follow Somaia on Instagram