‘Afghanistan has changed, women now will fight back’
As the world flounders to resolve the humanitarian crisis concerning women in Afghanistan, here is a valiant former judge lobbying for the evacuation of over 270 female judges targeted by Taliban. The spunky 55-year-old has herself suffered two attempts on her life, including a runover. In 2008, at the age of 43, Marzia Babakarkhail emigrated from her country to the United Kingdom, where she works in the office of Labour Party MP Debbie Abrahams. Excerpts from her interview.
Q- What inspired you to take up the profession of a judge?
A- I come from a city called Pol-e-Khumri in northern Afghanistan. I studied Islamic law in Kabul University, trained in the Supreme Court and was a family court judge for eight years.
When I was a 16-year-old in Pol-e-Khumri, I was inspired by Qazi Nafisa to become a judge. She has passed away. When I was a judge, there were about 22 or 23 judges in Afghanistan and I was one of them. That number has multiplied. In all countries, being a female judge is a huge argument for women’s role in public life,
Q- What is your occupation at this point of time?
A- I am a Muslim feminist and public figure and I fight for women’s rights in Afghanistan. At this point, we are trying to evacuate female professionals and their families from Afghanistan.
The concern I have for the women activists, lawyers and judges in Afghanistan is this — right now, when I look out my window, I notice the polished panes. But many years ago, they broke down my door. Nine armed men came looking for me in my house. And that is going to happen to every single female professional in Afghanistan.
Q- Who do you think was more repressive, the mujahideen or the Taliban?
A- When the mujahideen came to power in Afghanistan, for the first time, women were stopped from being on TV. They had women put on the headscarf. To me, the mujahideen is no different from the Taliban.
Q- Female mayor Zarifa Ghafoori wanted to talk to Taliban. Do you think the Taliban can be reformed through dialogue? If not, what do you think prompted their new rhetoric?
A- Don’t waste your time. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. I do not agree with her.
Their desire for international legitimacy — that’s the reason behind their empty women’s rights rhetoric.
There is a consciousness about women’s rights absent 20 years earlier. What do you think brought that about?
Afghanistan today is not the same as 35 years back. The young generation of women are not the same people we were 20 years ago. Through the Internet and mobile telephony, they not only have a limited agency but access to role models and ideas. They know what women are capable of. They will not capitulate this time.
I will argue that the Taliban has less support from the men as well. If the people of Afghanistan supported the Taliban, they would not have flocked by the thousands to the airport. I, on the other hand, am going to return. I want to stand with the women there against the Taliban.