This is the story of a story that began the day after the capture of Kabul by the Taliban in the summer of 2021. Marwa and Raha, two Afghan women in their twenties, recounted their daily lives to journalist Caroline Gillet thanks to to recorded voice notes whenever they could and with some precautions (Marwa and Raha are pseudonyms and their voices had been modified). Series of nine twenty-minute episodes broadcast on France Inter, multi-awarded (including the Italia Prize for best documentary) and with great audience success (300,000 views), “Inside Kaboul” has also been adapted into an animated film (available on France. TV).
But the story does not end there. The young women continued to confide in Caroline Gillet and, since both managed to leave the country, this second season is called “Outside Kaboul”. A particularly moving series which doubles as a reflection on the role and place of the journalist.
First the sound of the waves, since this is how this second season opens. Marwa was admitted to a prestigious French business school. But, this April 18, 2022, is the first time she sees the sea, and with her we hear it. And Caroline Gillet notes: “It’s the first time I’ve heard his laugh, like that, free. » For her part, Raha has just gotten married and Caroline Gillet fears that the animated adaptation of the podcast for France Télévisions (in spring 2023) will put her in even greater danger.
Hardness of exile
The journalist underlines how much this unique device raises questions for her. Questions “that we didn’t talk to [him] about in journalism school: we have to reinvent the rules.” Especially since, when Raha tells her that she is pregnant, Caroline Gillet easily admits that she does not understand, that this risks complicating her departure (it will be the case), but adds: “It’s not my place to judge. »
Episode 2. While the Taliban further reduce women’s freedoms, Raha watches the series Emily in Paris. Caroline Gillet fears, for her, disillusionment when she discovers Paris. Especially since, for her part, Marwa talks about the harshness of exile. Raha will also say how difficult it is to leave without knowing if she will see her loved ones and her country again, “in the hands of monsters”.
Beyond the ethical questions and personal questions that this podcast will have posed to Caroline Gillet (and although we feel how difficult it was for her to hang up the microphone), we must remember Marwa’s sentence, for whom making this podcast will have been essential “to tell what is happening in our country”.
