In the dim illumination of a tiny room tucked away in the suburbs of Karachi, Pakistan, a dreadful picture of despair unfolds. A 15-year-old Afghan girl called Arzo fights a grim battle for survival, having drunk battery acid, a disturbing trend among Afghan girls driven to extremes by the Taliban's repressive regime.
Arzo's story begins as a carefree, ambitious teen with dreams of becoming a doctor. But her dreams were shattered in August 2021 when the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan, resulting in a ban on female secondary education. Upset at losing her chance at education, Arzo's previously bright disposition quickly turned somber.
