Maryam Namazie

Maryam Namazie is a political activist, campaigner and blogger

Tag: Afghanistan

  • We are all Farkhunda

    The below is a shortened version of my speech at Marea Feminist Review and Consulta Torinese per la Laicita public events in Genoa and Turin, Italy during 27-30 March 2015. Today, we are all Farkhunda. You know her by now – a 27 year old woman accused by a mullah of being an “infidel” who…

  • The struggle continues

    On 11 July, the International Day against Stoning, brave women and men (including a 16 year old who had acid thrown on her face) marched to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs in Kabul to denounce the brutal execution of Najiba, a young woman, by the Taliban four days ago. See more photos here and be…

  • Allah ordered the execution

    Below is a Reuter’s report of a woman being executed near Kabul, Afghanistan by the Taliban this Sunday. It says she was accused of adultery and that Taliban members were ‘sexually involved’ with her, possibly via rape, and that she was tortured and killed to settle a dispute… Watching the very disturbing video, I can’t…

  • What happened to all that talk on Afghan women’s rights?

    The second Bonn conference starts today to determine Afghanistan’s future ten years after the fall of the Taliban. As was to be expected, women were excluded from the talks (until less than ten days ago and as a result of protests).  ‘Gender issues are going to have to take a back seat to other priorities,’…

  • Gulnaz pardoned… so she can marry her rapist

    Hamid Karzai is pardoning Gulnaz, the Afghan woman serving a 12-year prison sentence after she was raped. But don’t get too excited. He is pardoning her so she can marry her rapist! According to a statement from the presidential palace, ‘As the both sides [Gulnaz and the rapist] have agreed to get married to each…

  • The EU, like Sharia courts, doesn’t want women to speak up

    A few days ago, Ophelia Benson blogged about Gulnaz, the Afghan women jailed for 12 years after being raped in Afghanistan. On the day, I was asked to do an interview on it by SKY TV but couldn’t as I had to pick up my 6 year old from school. Since then, I have been…