Shokoufeh Jafari was only two when her family fled Afghanistan. In August 1998, as the Taliban closed in on the Bamiyan valley and targeted families of former military personnel, the Jafaris crossed the border into neighbouring Iran in search of refuge.Now 29, Shokoufeh and her sisters, Maryam, 23, and Mandana, 20, have built a life in the city of Shiraz defined by resilience and a passion for Kyokushin karate.
Shokoufeh acts as a referee at a provincial karate competition in Shiraz in July 2022, as one of her students eagerly waits for their match to begin
Shokoufeh began training at 13, followed by Maryam at seven and Mandana, who was nine. Shokoufeh recalls how their father, a former military officer, encouraged them to pursue the sport, believing it would build their confidence and strength.
Shokoufeh and her father look at old pictures from their life in Afghanistan
“Our father was the only one who believed in us from the very beginning. He enrolled us in private karate classes because it wasn’t offered at school. We never trained in Afghanistan, but with his support we were able to practise in Iran, join the [Afghan] national team, and compete internationally,” she says.“Karate became a shared language for us, one that strengthened not only our physical power but also our spirit and will,” adds Maryam.
