Campaigning Tirelessly for Human Rights

"Why do you allow these criminals to be part of this assembly? These were the ones who turned our country into the nucleus of national and international wars. They were the most anti-women people in the society who brought our country to this state and they intend to do the same again. They should be taken to national and international courts.”

This speech to the Loya Jirga in December 2003 made Malalai Joya famous. For some, she became infamous. She has received death threats ever since and has survived several assassination attempts. She has had to move house umpteen times and is protected by bodyguards around the clock.

Despite the risks, she has been constant in her public criticism of Afghanistan’s warlords and drug smugglers and of the fact that the democratically-elected President Hamid Karzai harbours former mujahedeen in his government.

"There are two kinds of mujahedeen in Afghanistan,” she has explained. “One kind fought against the Soviet invasion and made a name for themselves. But the others who call themselves mujahedeen have just spread torture and sadness.”

Clear vocation for human rights

Malalai grew up in Iran and spent several years in a refugee camp in Pakistan. After receiving her education, she decided to return to Afghanistan and to campaign for the rights of women and children. That was in 1998 when the Taliban were still in power.

Five years later, she became the first elected female MP from the southern province of Farah, winning the second highest number of votes.

But she was never very popular with her colleagues. In 2006, she was physically and verbally attacked by fellow MPs in the Wolesi Jirga after accusing some of them of being unfit for service in the Afghan government.

In 2007, she was suspended for likening the Afghan parliament to a zoo in a television interview.

Uncompromising in her principles

However, Malalai Joya will not bow down to pressure. She is not diplomatic and does not seek compromise at any price. Indeed, she is very much to the point when speaking to her fellow Afghans.

"Take a look at who you’re voting for. Make sure that they have no blood on their hands. Find out how they made their money before the elections. Be alert and don’t allow yourselves to be tricked!”

Earlier this year, Malalai Joya received the international Anti-Discrimination Prize in Rotterdam. In her thank you speech, she talked about the dramatic situation in Afghanistan, which is still in chaos eight years after Western intervention.

She once again criticised US and NATO policy in the war-torn country, saying that any international support for the Afghan government should be subject to certain conditions -- especially the protection of human rights.

Authors: Shikiba Babori & Anne Thomas
Editor: Thomas Bärthlein