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Malalai Joya

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Malalai Joya speaking in Australia.

Malalai Joya (Pashto: ملالی جویا) (born April 25, 1978) is an Afghan politician. As an elected member of the Parliament from Farah province, she has publicly denounced the presence of what she considers "warlords" and "war criminals" in the parliament.

In May 2007, Joya was suspended from the parliament on the grounds that she had insulted fellow representatives in a television interview. Her suspension, which is currently being appealed, has generated protest internationally and appeals for her reinstatement have been signed by high profile writers, intellectuals such as Naomi Klein and Noam Chomsky, and politicians including Members of Parliament from Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain. [1] Joya has compared to the symbol of Burma's democracy movement, Aung San Suu Kyi. [2]

Early and personal life

The daughter of a former medical student who lost a foot while fighting the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan[citation needed], Malalai Joya was 4 years old when her family fled Afghanistan in 1982 to the refugee camps of Iran and later Pakistan. After the Soviet withdrawal, Malalai Joya returned to Afghanistan in 1998 during the Taliban's reign.

Malalai Joya is also director of the non-governmental group, Organisation of Promoting Afghan Women's Capabilities (OPAWC) in the western provinces of Herat and Farah.[3] She is married.

Controversial stance in the Loya Jirga

Malalai Joya gained international attention in December 2003 when, as an elected delegate to the Loya Jirga convened to ratify the Constitution of Afghanistan, she spoke out publicly against what she termed the domination of warlords. In response, Sibghatullah Mojaddedi, chief of the Loya Jirga called her "infidel" and "communist". Since then she has survived four assassination attempts, and travels in Afghanistan under a burqa and with armed guards.[4]

World Pulse Magazine (Issue 1, 2005) wrote:

... When her time came to make her 3-minute statement, she tugged her black headscarf over her hair, stepped up to the microphone, and with emotional electricity made the speech that would alter her life.

After she spoke, there was a moment of stunned silence. Then there was an uproar. Male mujahideen, some who literally had guns at their feet, rushed towards her, shouting. She was brought under the protection of UN security forces.

In a nation where few dare to say the word "warlord" aloud, Joya had spoken fiercely against a proposal to appoint high clergy members and fundamentalist leaders to guide planning groups. She objected that several of those religious leaders were war criminals who should be tried for their actions—not national heroes to influence the new government.

Despite the commands of Assembly Chairman, Joya refused to apologize.

Joya's controversial stance against other members of the Loya Jirga have earned her much popularity as well as heavy criticism from her political opponents.

Political appointments and speaking engagements

Joya was elected to the 249-seat National Assembly, or Wolesi Jirga in September 2005, as a representative of Farah Province, winning the second highest number of votes in the province.[5]

She has continued her stance against the inclusion of former mujahideen in the current government of Afghanistan.

The BBC has called Joya "the most famous woman in Afghanistan." In a January 27, 2007 interview with BBC News Joya commented on her personal political mission amid continuous death threats, saying:

"They will kill me but they will not kill my voice, because it will be the voice of all Afghan women. You can cut the flower, but you cannot stop the coming of spring."[6]

In 2006, The Washington Post said of Joya: "Her truth is that warlords should not be permitted to hide behind "the mask of democracy to hold on to their chairs" and their pernicious pursuits at the expense of poor, "barefoot" Afghans who remain voiceless and disillusioned. The warlords are corrupt "war criminals" who should be tried, and incorrigible "drug dealers" who brought the country to its knees, she said."[7]

Malalai Joya appeared at the Federal Convention of Canada's New Democratic Party (NDP) in Quebec City on September 10, 2006, supporting party leader Jack Layton and the NDP's criticism of the NATO-led mission in southern Afghanistan. She said, "No nation can donate liberation to another nation."[8]

On September 13 she addressed gatherings at McGill University in Montreal and at the University of Ottawa, where she expressed her disappointment with American involvement in Afghanistan.

Malalai was in Sydney, Australia, on March 8, 2007, as a guest of UNIFEM, speaking about women's rights in Afghanistan in honor of International Women's Day.[9]

Malalai returned to Canada in November 2007 and address 400 people at the Steelworkers Hall on Cecil Street in Toronto. She then addressed a small group of union activists and activists at the Ontario Federation of Labour. Photos of meeting posted on Flickr.com

Parliament statements, attack, and ouster

On May 7, 2006, Malalai Joya was physically and verbally attacked by fellow members of parliament after accusing several colleagues of being "warlords" and unfit for service in the new Afghan government. "I said there are two kinds of mujahedeen in Afghanistan," Joya told the Associated Press. "One kind fought for independence, which I respect, but the other kind destroyed the country and killed 60,000 people." In response, angered lawmakers shouted death threats and threw empty plastic water bottles at Joya, who was shielded by sympathetic colleagues.[10][11][12]

In response to such threats, Joya continues to speak out against those she believes to be former mujahedeen in Afghanistan, stating:

"Never again will I whisper in the shadows of intimidation. I am but a symbol of my people's struggle and a servant to their cause. And if I were to be killed for what I believe in, then let my blood be the beacon for emancipation and my words a revolutionary paradigm for generations to come."[13]

On May 21, 2007, fellow members of the Wolesi Jirga voted to suspend Malalai Joya for three years from the legislature, citing that she had broken Article 70 of the Parliament, which had banned Wolesi Jirga members from openly criticizing each other. Joya had compared the Wolesi Jirga to a "stable or zoo" on a recent TV interview, and later called other members of parliament "criminals" and "drug smugglers."[14]

Joya said the vote was a "political conspiracy" and that she had been told Article 70 was written specifically for her saying "since I've started my struggle for human rights in Afghanistan, for women's rights, these criminals, these drug smugglers, they've stood against me from the first time I raised my voice at the Loya Jirga."[15]

In a statement Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, wrote: "Malalai Joya is a staunch defender of human rights and a powerful voice for Afghan women, and she shouldn't have been suspended from parliament."[16]

People in Farah, Nangarhar, Baghlan, Kabul and some other provinces of Afghanistan staged protests against suspension of Joya.[17]

On June 21, 2007, one month after Joya was suspended, Joya supporters in Melbourne staged protests to the Afghan government to reinstate Joya to the parliament.[18]

Joya's historic 2-minute speech

Her speech in the Loya Jirga Meeting, Kabul, Afghanistan (December 17, 2003):

My name is Malalai Joya from Farah Province. By the permission of the esteemed attendees, and by the name of God and the colored-shroud martyrs of the path of freedom, I would like to speak for a couple of minutes.

My criticism on all my compatriots is that why are they allowing the legitimacy and legality of this Loya Jerga come under question with the presence of those felons who brought our country to this state.

I feel pity and I feel very sorry that those who call Loya Jerga an infidel basis equivalent to blasphemy after coming here their words are accepted, or please see the committees and what people are whispering about. The chairman of every committee is already selected. Why do you not take all these criminals to one committee so that we see what they want for this nation. These were those who turned our country into the nucleus of national and international wars. They were the most anti-women people in the society who wanted to [makes pause] who brought our country to this state and they intend to do the same again. I believe that it is a mistake to test those already being tested. They should be taken to national and international court. If they are forgiven by our people, the bare-footed Afghan people, our history will never forgive them. They are all recorded in the history of our country.

Controversy and criticism

Joya has more recently drawn harsh criticism from some parliamentary members who contend that her remarks pertaining to the Mujahideen, who battled the Soviets, are unwarranted and disingenuous. Joya's supporters note that she distinguishes between the "real Mujahideen," who fought for the independence of Afghanistan, and the warlords and those who committed war crimes. [19] Detractors maintain that Joya has frequently taken lavish trips to the West solely to promote herself while neglecting to foster reconstruction to her underdeveloped and impoverished district of Farah.[20]

Awards

July 23, 2007 - Florence - Italy: Malalai Joya, was awarded with the Golden Fleur-de-Lis (Giglio d'Oro) award. [1]
  • July 23, 2007 - Florence - Italy: Malalai Joya, was awarded with the Golden Fleur-de-Lis (Giglio d'Oro) award.[21]
  • December 2004, the Valle d'Aosta Province of Italy awarded her the International Women of the Year 2004 Award.[23]
  • March 15, 2006, Mr. Tom Bates, Mayor of Berkeley presented a certificate of honor to her for "her continued work on behalf of human rights".[24]

Films

References

  1. ^ International appeal at Znet
  2. ^ rabble.ca, October 24, 2007
  3. ^ OPAWC Website
  4. ^ UN guarding loya jirga delegate, BBC News, 2003-12-18.
  5. ^ Wolesi Jirga Results
  6. ^ Afghan MP says she will not be silenced by Tom Coghlan, BBC News.
  7. ^ An Afghan Voice That Fear Won't Silence by Nora Boustany, Washington Post, 2006-03-17.
  8. ^ Afghan politician says NATO mission has not brought more peace to the region, New Democratic Party of Canada, 2006-09-08.
  9. ^ Quiet voice of Afghan women by Anita Quigley, The Daily Telegraph, 2007-03-07.
  10. ^ Afghan lawmaker attacked by other legislators by Amir Shah, The Seattle Times, 2006-05-09.
  11. ^ Woman MP is attacked in a blow for democracy by Tim Albone, Times Online, 2006-05-09.
  12. ^ Afghan legislator attacked for views by Amir Shah, The Boston Globe, 2006-05-09.
  13. ^ The woman who defies warlords, World Pulse Magazine.
  14. ^ Link broken as of 2007-11-05
  15. ^ Afghan parliament suspends outspoken female lawmaker after critical TV interview, International Herald Tribune, 2007-05-21.
  16. ^ Afghanistan: Reinstate MP Suspended for ‘Insult’, Human Rights Watch, 2007-05-23.
  17. ^ Afghan protesters demand restoration of membership of lawmaker, People's Daily Online, 2007-05-30
  18. ^ Pro-Joya demonstration in Australia, Pajhwok Afghan News.
  19. ^ YouTube
  20. ^ a b Woman Among Warlords Press Release
  21. ^ YouTube
  22. ^ يادداشتی بر آخرين تحولات لويه جرگه قانون اساسی
  23. ^ Donna dell'anno 2004
  24. ^ Document scan
  25. ^ 518.org (malformed)
  26. ^ PeaceWomen across the Globe
  27. ^ The Forum of Young Global Leaders
  28. ^ Ufficio Stampa - Comune di Firenze
  29. ^ YouTube
  30. ^ Sakharov Prize 2007: five nominees announced
  31. ^ Malalai Joya: la guerra di una ragazza contro la guerra

Videos

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