50 People Who Matter 2010 | 45. Malalai Joya

Afghan heroine.

By New Statesman Published 27 September 2010

Her enemies call her a dead woman walking, and the assassination attempts come with increasing frequency and ferocity. Life as Afghanistan's most outspoken female MP is fraught with danger.

Banished from parliament in 2007 for speaking out against the warlords, the youngest Afghan MP has since toured the world, refuting the "pack of lies" that the media tell about the "liberation" of Afghanistan and the notion that life for women there has improved since 2001.

Joya is a symbol of opposition, not just against the Taliban and misogyny, but against corruption and imperialism.

She is one of the few symbols of hope for Afghanistan's future.

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4 comments

Tue, 2010-10-26 12:29 — milad rajabi (not verified)

ma az hoqoqy zanani afghanistan dfah mekonim.

Tue, 2010-10-26 12:30 — 213 73 (not verified)

ma az hoqoqy zanan dar afghanistan dfah mekonim .

Wed, 2010-09-29 11:10 — Engineer Ramiz (not verified)

Hi lady loya
i was became too happy and pleasure when heard your speech no that time , so i appreciate you with your high venture , and wish to work more and more serve to our dear country and country men .
Ramiz from afghanistan

Wed, 2010-09-29 06:37 — shah mahmood "Mubariz" (not verified)

Hi,
Just i will say, thanks Joya for your wonderful efforts for Afghan women. you are really and hard working for peace, democracy, stability and right for women and men.

Love and huge
Shah mahmood "Mubariz", your Ltl brother