The Documentary Podcast The Fifth Floor: An Afghan love story
Feb 8, 2025
Aalia Farzan, a journalist with BBC Afghan Service, shares her inspiring love story after leaving Afghanistan post-Taliban takeover. She highlights Afghan courtship traditions and the clash with modern dating. Ilona Hromliuk, a BBC Ukrainian journalist, discusses the poignant journeys of women visiting their partners on the frontlines amid war, revealing the emotional toll and resilience required in these challenging times. Together, they illustrate the intricate dynamics of love in contrasting cultures shaped by conflict.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
An Afghan Love Story in London
- Alia Farzan, a BBC journalist, left Afghanistan in 2021 after the Taliban takeover.
- She unexpectedly found love and married a colleague in London.
Traditional Afghan Courtship
- Afghan marriages are traditionally arranged, with limited interaction between couples before engagement.
- Dating is a taboo, and families conduct thorough investigations into potential partners.
The Afghan Wedding Process
- Afghan weddings involve the groom paying a dowry (shirbaha) to the bride's family, often requiring loans.
- Multiple ceremonies, including a henna night and a wrap-up party, follow.