Nazira and Nazima Khairzad, two Afghan sisters and athletes, fled Taliban-controlled Afghanistan in 2021 and have since built new lives in Germany. However, 21-year-old Nazira now faces deportation, risking another painful separation from her family.
“When I received the letter saying I might be sent back to Italy, I felt overwhelmed with hopelessness, fear, and uncertainty,” Nazira shared. “My mother has been extremely stressed since then. She barely sleeps, fearing the police might come at any moment to take me away.”
After the Taliban’s return to power, the sisters were forced to escape their homeland separately. Nazira initially arrived in Italy, while Nazima, now 23, eventually made it to Germany with the rest of the family through Pakistan. The family only reunited in early 2024 in the Frankfurt area.
“It was a very difficult period, being apart for so long,” said Nazira. “But we were so happy to finally be together again.”
A Lifelong Bond and Shared Passion for Sports
The sisters have always been close. “Nazima is not just my sister; she’s my role model and best friend,” said Nazira. Growing up in Bamiyan province, the two were inseparable, enjoying skiing, football, and mountain climbing—even as their parents struggled to understand such pursuits, which were unusual for girls in Afghan society.
Despite societal resistance, Nazima excelled as a ski racer and mountaineer, while Nazira became a goalkeeper for the Afghanistan women’s national football team. But when the Taliban seized power in August 2021 and banned women from participating in sports, the sisters had to flee.
“My life was in danger,” Nazira said. “If I had stayed, the Taliban probably would have killed me.”
Now Facing Removal to Italy
Nazira spent three difficult years in Italy before rejoining her family in Germany in 2024. “My mother is unwell and needs my emotional and physical support,” she said. “We’re very close.” Nazima, too, is in need of support—she was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year and underwent surgery.
Despite their challenges, Nazira is now facing deportation back to Italy, the country that first granted her asylum. Their family’s lawyer, Elke Gabsa, is working to stop the deportation. “Under EU law, a person granted asylum in one member state generally cannot seek protection in another,” Gabsa explained.
However, she noted that in past cases, the European Court of Justice made exceptions when conditions in certain countries—like Greece or Italy—were found to violate basic human rights. But recent legal shifts have made such exceptions harder to obtain.
Clinging to Hope
Despite the odds, Nazira and her legal team are appealing the decision. “It would violate the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to separate her from a family that clearly needs her,” Gabsa argued.
Nazira has worked hard to rebuild her life in Germany. She has learned the language, found part-time work, and returned to football. “Football is not just a sport to me—it’s my future,” she said. A former AC Milan trainee, she dreams of one day playing professionally in Frankfurt.
“I want to stay here, be with my family, contribute to society, and live a safe, meaningful life,” Nazira added. “I’m committed to building my future here, with hope and dedication.”
