The Escape from Kabul: A True Story of Sisterhood and Defiance

by Karen Bartlett

A gripping story of rescue, survival and female solidarity.

In the twenty years since 2001, Afghan women obtained legal degrees, became judges and set out to transform their country – tackling corruption, and reducing horrifying levels of violence against women and children. These educated and powerful women led the mission to build a modern democracy. However, when Western forces withdrew in August 2021, the women judges of Afghanistan and their families faced mortal danger.

The Escape from Kabul is the never-before-told story of the escape of nearly 200 women and their families, thanks to a network of professional friends, female judges and lawyers from around the world, who refused to abandon them to the Taliban.

A searing insight into the challenges of safely building a new life overseas and also the captive fate of women in Afghanistan.

'Anyone concerned about the fragility of rights or the isolation of those living under repression should read this book' Martha Minow, author of When Should Law Forgive?

267 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2025

About the author

Karen Bartlett is a writer and journalist based in London. She has written extensively for the Sunday Times, The Times, The Guardian and WIRED from Africa, India and the US, and has presented and produced for BBC Radio. She was the youngest director of democratic reform and human rights campaign group Charter88, and began her career in the UK and South Africa. Most recently, she worked with Eva Schloss, writing her Sunday Times bestselling autobiography After Auschwitz: A Story of Heartbreak and Survival by the Stepsister of Anne Frank.

Reviews

[Anne Tonkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a clunky read, sometimes with more detail than can hold your interest in the early part of the book and without a smooth flow of characters. However the more I read, the more interested I became in the environment and conditions of life in Afghanistan, rather than the individual judges personal stories which became a bit muddled to me.
This feels like a story that you should know and should read, especially as we move on to more recent horrors and wars and our empathy and support is stretched to the limit. I’m proud of the female judges in supporting countries who led and supported this work, despite huge cultural differences that would have challenged the expectations of all involved.

[Ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite this book jumping all over the places with the different stories and timeliness of the Afghani judges I adored this book.

It’s maddening how helpless one is to stripping away of rights in a beautiful country that once celebrated women. I felt so in awe of these women and what they’ve battled and continue to endure in order to survive. It made me question what have I done in my life to actually help the world.

I’m proud to be a woman.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important book. How female judges from around the world rallied to assist female judges trapped in Afghanistan and fearing for their lives. At times heartbreaking, soul destroying and then hopeful for human kind. Why do humans treat each other so badly? Ultimately uplifting. Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and thr publisher for an ARC.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read,