Karen Bartlett, a graduate of Royal Holloway’s Screenwriting MA, has won the 2026 Orwell Prize for Political Writing (non fiction) for ‘Escape from Kabul’.

When Western forces withdrew in August 2021, female judges in 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.

Here’s what the prize judges said:

"The imperiled lives of Afghani female judges in the wake of the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, rescued by other female judges around the world, is one of tragedy, bravery and hope. Bartlett tells it fearlessly in this deeply moving book that takes the reader on an emotional journey from despair and terror to relief. She brings the wider history of Afghanistan to life through extensive interviews and human stories, confronting issues of corruption and brutality head on, while weaving in a love and appreciation for the country."

https://www.orwellfoundation.com/political-writing/the-escape-from-kabul/

 https://www.karenbartlett.co.uk/