Safia Ahmed-jan

Safia Ahmed-jan (alternative published English transliterations: Safia Ahmed Jan, Safia Ama Jan, Safia Amajan) (1941–25 September 2006) was an Afghan women's rights advocate and an outspoken critic of the Taliban for the latter's suppression of women. During the period of fundamentalist rule, she stayed in Afghanistan to secretly teach women [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanistan/story/0,,1881039,00.html "Taliban kill top Afghan woman" The Guardian] ] .

At the time of her assassination on 25 September 2006 she was the provincial director of the Ministry of Women's Affairs in Kandahar province, a position she had held for five years. Previously, she was a teacher and high school principal. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/25/world/asia/25cnd-afghan.html?hp&ex=1159243200&en=bd8f17e128005c3d&ei=5094&partner=homepage Gunmen Kill Afghan Women’s Advocate - NY Times] (registration required)] She was killed in front of her home in the provincial capital, Kandahar, by two men on a motorcycle. [ [http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4211732.html Houston Chronicle] (Link dead as of 14 January 2007)] [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5376968.stm (BBC)] ]

Of her, U.S. President George W. Bush said, "She was a leader who wanted to give young girls an education in Afghanistan. She was a person who served her government. She was a person who cared deeply about the future of the country." [ [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/09/20060926-3.html# President Bush Welcomes President Karzai of Afghanistan to the White House] G.W. Bush praises Safia Ahmed-jan during his press conference with Hamid Karzai. 26 September 2006]

References and notes

salam safia

External links

* [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/25/asia/AS_GEN_Afghanistan.php "International Herald Tribune," 25 September 2006: Gunmen kill director of women's affairs for southern Afghanistan]