Synopsis

Malalai Joya is one of the most popular Members of Parliament in Afghanistan and often takes a stand against the warlords who feature strongly in the country’s new assembly. Born in 1979, she is currently the youngest member of the Afghan Parliament. This short film provides a personal insight into her courageous life.

Malalai Joya

Ms. Joya is a 26-years-old woman who was a refugee in Iran and Pakistan. Today she is the head of Hamoon Health clinic in Farah, in the Southwestern part of Afghanistan. Ms. Joya also runs an orphanage for girls and a girl’s school.

She moved the Loya Jirga with her critical speech about the criminals and warlords - who were, she said, present at that time in the Loya Jirga in January 2004. Since then, she has been constantly threaten and she is in danger. She has a 24-hours a day close protection. During our visit to Farah, we have been ourselves threaten and had to seek for constant protection with the local authorities.

Malalai Joya in her speech during a visit to a remote village in Farah province:

First of all, I would like to take off my burqa. I am wearing the burqa because the bad security situation here in Farah. And because of security reasons and the danger of warlords, I cannot come openly to see you.

I will be glad when we achieve a powerful central government in our country, a government which could consider the rights of women, a government which could allow women to work in the same positions as the men.

Vote for a person whose hands are not coloured with the nation’s blood, vote for the one who thinks himself as a nations servant.

Once again I am asking you to tell your mothers and sisters to attend this election freely. You should select a representative who can reflect your pains and opinions.

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