Lone Female Afghan Parliamentarian Challenges Warlords
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Posted by Sonali Kolhatkar May 18th, 2006 |
Malalai Joya, the brave 28 year old member of Afghanistan’s parliament is once again making waves. On May 5th, 2006, during a Parliamentary session, one member of Parliament who is a prominent local warlord complained about recent criticism of the mujahedin, the “holy warriors” who had been financed and armed by the US in the 1980s against the Soviet occupation. Malalai Joya spoke out, saying, “There are two types of mujahedin - one who were really mujahed [holy warriors], and the second, those who killed tens of thousands of innocent people and who are criminals.” [video of the incident]
Joya’s claims are accepted by the vast majority of the Afghan people, who were victimized by the brutal and misogynist, US-backed warlords during the 80s and early 90s. Many of these warlords are back in power and engage in summary intimidation of critics. Joya has received many death threats and survived four assassination attempts.
During last week’s outburst, she was threatened in public - she claims that some parliamentarians had even called for her to be raped. Water bottles were hurled at her and she eventually rushed out of the assembly hall [video of the incident].
The warlords’ attack sparked many women members of Parliament to temporarily boycott a following parliamentary session in solidarity with Joya.
Malalai Joya recently completed a US tour in March where she addressed thousands of Americans about the on-going abuses of Afghan women, and her own political persecution for daring to be a voice for her people. Sadly, her persecution has not been as worthy of media coverage as the case of Abdul Rahman.
For more information, visit Malalai Joya’s website at www.malalaijoya.com. There you can view video clips of her parliamentary challenges to the warlords.
May 18th, 2006 10:53
[…] [Original Post]. […]
April 16th, 2007 00:10
dear sallam
i am muhammad ullah from kandahar
دیر د مجاهدینو او د اسلام په باره کی منفی اقدامات مه کوه ..همدغه مجاهدین و چی زموز گران هیواد ئی د چهل تیارو حخه په اسلامی بنه اختیارکرو
د همدعو مجاهیدینو برکت دی چی نن موز تول افعانان په یو اسلامی جامعی کی روند کوو
په درناوی
May 21st, 2007 18:25
[…] In February 2006, my non-profit organization, Afghan Women’s Mission, sponsored a US tour for her. Malalai had just been elected to Parliament and, unlike most politicians, was continuing to speak out and take risks after her election. A few months after returning to Afghanistan she was physically attacked by the warlord MPs and threatened with rape [read my WIMN Blog post here.] A few weeks ago she returned to the US for a small series of events in April organized by UCLA students and AWM volunteers. I noticed she was under greater pressure than ever before. The media in Afghanistan were trying to silence her, afraid for themselves. Instead of giving in to the pressure, she spoke out even louder, doing several hours of interviews with Orange County-based Ariana Afghan Television which broadcasts all over the world, including Afghanistan. […]
May 25th, 2007 17:28
[…] Heart has an account at Women’s Space/The Margins. More information from Sonali Kolhatkar at WIMN’s Voices. Here is an excerpt from Kolhatkar’s piece: … In February 2006, my non-profit organization, Afghan Women’s Mission, sponsored a US tour for her. Malalai had just been elected to Parliament and, unlike most politicians, was continuing to speak out and take risks after her election. A few months after returning to Afghanistan she was physically attacked by the warlord MPs and threatened with rape [read my WIMN Blog post here.] A few weeks ago she returned to the US for a small series of events in April organized by UCLA students and AWM volunteers. I noticed she was under greater pressure than ever before. The media in Afghanistan were trying to silence her, afraid for themselves. Instead of giving in to the pressure, she spoke out even louder, doing several hours of interviews with Orange County-based Ariana Afghan Television which broadcasts all over the world, including Afghanistan. […]