Last Thursday night, I was able to get along to Avid Reader bookshop in Brisbane to hear Malalai Joya speak at a launch of her new book – Raising My Voice. Ms Joya is often described as the bravest woman in Afghanistan. Being a women’s rights activist under the Taliban would certainly take some guts. Getting elected to the new Afghan Parliament and continuing to criticise warlords and drug lords who served in the current Parliament and other positions of authority wouldn’t be a task for the fainthearted either.
I first heard of her in 2005 and saw her speak at an International Women’s Day function in 2007. I am somewhat surprised she is still alive. She is certainly still speaking as strongly as ever.
I haven’t had a chance to read her book yet, but her speech last week covered much of the same points raised in the interview she did on the 7:30 Report.
I strongly believe that no nation can donate liberation to another nation. This is the responsibility of our own people to fight for their rights to achieve values like democracy and women’s rights, human rights in our country. It’s a prolonged struggled, it’s a risky struggle full of hardships and challenges but I trust in my people. In the history of my country.
I am not qualified to assess whether her call for a full military withdrawal to enable her country to find its own way to democracy is the best path for the people of Afghanistan. But sadly, whatever path is taken over the next few years in that country, it seems certain she is right that it will be a struggle full of hardships and challenges.
This more extensive interview, from the International Museum of Women website, with Malalai Joya in California last year provides more detail of her views.
She will be making a number of appearances in Adelaide this coming Tuesday and Wednesday.
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