On March 23, there was a sense of optimism in the air as celebrations of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, took place. After a seven-month suspension, millions of girls across Afghanistan were excited and ready to return to school for the beginning of the new school year, only to be sent home as schools shut their doors and armed Taliban guards prevented them from entering. After two decades of fighting, these girls had beencounting down the days when they would be able to resume their education. For some, the last-minute U-turn was too much to handle. Tears turned to outrage, and a few days later…