Eqlima with her painting of Belfast boxer Carl Frampton (Image: Beyond Skin) A female artist from Afghanistan has received thanks from a Belfast boxer after painting his portrait and sending it to Northern Ireland despite the risk involved. Eqlima lives in Kabul and said her art has been destroyed on multiple occasions by the Taliban due to restrictions placed on women, with many using art and creativity as a weapon of resistance. This week, her painting of former boxer Carl Frampton arrived in Northern Ireland, with Eqlima saying she wished to draw the Belfast man as "we are both fighters.
" Read more: Belfast resident shaken after bricks thrown at house in race hate crime attack Read more: Belfast South Asian community reflect on celebrating home culture in NI This week marked the third anniversary of the fall of Kabul when the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. The regime enforced "gender apartheid", taking away rights for girls and women, banning music and other forms of creative expression. Sharing her story through Northern Ireland based charity Beyond Skin, Eqlima said the situation for women and girls in Afghanistan is getting "worse day by day.
" She said despite threats from the regime and restrictions, she continues to follow her passion for art. Eqlima said: "Even our basic rights of life, such as the right to study, work, and express thoughts, have been taken from us. As a woman visual artist, I am at greatest risk from Taliban rule, and in such a situation, .