Monday | Four Corners on ABC investigates the desperate escape of Afghanistan’s women cyclists – Four Corners shines a spotlight on one of the most extraordinary rescue efforts to emerge from Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power, in a compelling new documentary airing Monday night.
Titled Escaping Kabul, the investigation follows members of Afghanistan’s women’s cycling community as they attempt to flee the country after becoming targets under Taliban rule.
The special airs Monday, 15 June at 8.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.
When riding a bicycle became an act of defiance
For years, Afghanistan’s female cyclists challenged social norms simply by riding in public.
To them, cycling represented freedom, independence and the belief that women belonged in public spaces.
But when the Taliban seized control of Kabul in August 2021, that visibility placed them in immediate danger.
What had once been an expression of empowerment suddenly became a source of fear.
A race against time
With official evacuation channels rapidly closing, a secret international effort emerged to help members of the women’s cycling community escape Afghanistan.
Activists, cycling officials, diplomats and humanitarian workers joined forces to orchestrate a complex rescue mission spanning multiple borders.
The operation unfolded under immense pressure, with every decision carrying life-altering consequences.
Through firsthand accounts from the cyclists themselves and those involved in the rescue, Escaping Kabul reveals the courage required to navigate a dangerous and uncertain path to safety.
A story of resilience and survival
At its heart, the documentary is about the determination of women refusing to surrender their identities, dreams and freedoms.
It also highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Afghan women under Taliban rule.
The episode arrives amid renewed international scrutiny of the regime’s treatment of women.
In July 2025, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Taliban Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani, citing allegations of gender-based persecution as crimes against humanity.
Four Corners continues its tradition of powerful storytelling
For decades, Four Corners has explored some of the world’s most pressing issues through investigative journalism and deeply human stories.
Escaping Kabul continues that tradition, offering a poignant and often harrowing account of bravery in the face of oppression.
It’s a story not only about escape, but about the enduring fight for dignity, equality and the right to choose one’s own future.
Four Corners: Escaping Kabul airs Monday, 15 June at 8.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview
TV Central ABC content HERE
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Monday | Four Corners on ABC investigates the desperate escape of Afghanistan’s women cyclists
