A powerful call to action for Scotland from Fawzia Koofi, Afghan women’s rights advocate
In the three years since the Taliban regained power, Afghanistan has become a stark symbol of the global crisis in women’s rights. Women and girls are facing unparalleled restrictions on education, employment, movement, and personal freedoms. Crackdowns have included bans on female aid workers, the closure of women-only spaces, and even prohibitions on women speaking in public. Despite the courage of Afghan women resisting this oppression, the international community’s response has been fragmented and ineffective, often prioritising political agendas over gender equality. This lack of meaningful action not only leaves Afghan women unsupported but also emboldens misogynistic regimes globally, demonstrating the fragile state of women’s rights everywhere.
On the 7th of November, Glasgow Afghan United hosted an impactful event at the Scottish Parliament, sponsored by Bob Doris MSP, to shine a light on the crisis and galvanise solidarity with Afghan women. The event, attended by First Minister John Swinney MSP, celebrated recent initiatives like scholarships enabling 19 female Afghan medical students to continue their studies in Scotland and the 14 Afghan Women Scholars hosted by Dundee University. However, the focus remained on the urgent need for global action.
Fawzia Koofi, former Vice President of the National Assembly of Afghanistan and a fierce advocate for women’s rights, delivered a stirring message. She called on politicians in the Global North to move beyond sentiments and take concrete steps, emphasising the importance of scholarships and educational opportunities. Koofi highlighted that Afghanistan’s future depends on equipping women to take leadership roles when Taliban rule ends.
“We need not only solidarity. We are grateful for the sentiments, but sentiments and feelings aren’t enough. We need a change in policy, we need practical steps,” she urged.
Her message resonated with the diverse group of Afghan women in the room—lawyers, doctors, teachers, urban planners, journalists, politicians, academics, and more—each embodying the talent and resilience needed to rebuild their society.
Koofi also issued a universal challenge: to fight discrimination wherever it appears. “The Taliban don’t want women to speak or be educated because they know that if a woman is educated, she will never allow her child to pick up a gun,” she stated.
Mohadese Safdari, an Afghan Women Scholar at Dundee University, also shared her journey. Growing up in a refugee environment, she pursued her passion for architecture and urban planning despite navigating the barriers of a male-dominated society. She emphasised the importance of amplifying Afghan women’s voices and taking action for a better future.
From local communities in Scotland, to civil society, to the global stage, we must not turn away from the worsening plight of Afghan women. The upcoming release of Bread and Roses, a documentary by Sahra Mani, Malala Yousafzai and Jennifer Lawrence, serves as a timely reminder of the resilience and strength of Afghan women—and the responsibility we all share to stand with them.
Afghanistan’s women and girls need more than our sympathy; they need our action.