Afghanistan's first female mayor proves critics wrong

[redqueen]

When Azra Jafari became mayor of Nili, she knew that the impoverished and remote Afghan town desperately needed roads and investment. She was aware she would be living in very basic conditions, on a meagre salary of $76 (£50) a month, and that taking care of a four-year-old daughter at the same time would be challenging.

What she was less prepared for was the appearance of a powerful mullah in her unheated, makeshift office, wagging his finger at her, warning that Nili was not about to accept a female mayor who thought she could "exploit her femininity in order to complete a few projects and influence our women".

"After three months, the same man came up to me and thanked me," Jafari recalled, four years later. "He said, 'If a man could do just half of what you've done here, our province will surely flourish.' He now supports me and we work very well together – I have a great deal of respect for him."

...

The 34-year-old cannot be further from the image of the downtrodden victim that has become a misleading shorthand for Afghan womanhood. Nor is she connected to a powerful or wealthy family, and she fiercely rejects the suggestion that her promotion was an exercise in tokenism by a government under pressure from its western financiers to show it is bettering women's rights.

...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/24/afghanistan-first-female-mayor

[redqueen]

1. Just one vanity kick

For the first female mayor in Afghanistan. An amazingly brave, strong woman.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

3. Vanity kick? Hell! This article should be written in the sky. Get a plane and get up there!

K&R

[redqueen]

4. It's wonderful news, isn't it?

I love her courage.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

6. Her courage, her capability, her integrity.

And truth be told, having the mullah return with praise shows a tremendous amount of integrity as well. If it moderates the cultural impression about women I will applaud him as well.

And may that, in turn, moderate the opinions of those who consider Islam an unsalvageable society.

I think this lady underestimates the magnitude of her bravery. She wanted a few roads for her home. I think she may well end-up building bridges across the breadth of humanity.

[redqueen]

8. Beautifully said...

Let's hope that is the case.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

9. thank-you (which is another way of saying "kick")

[smirkymonkey]

2. K&R, Excellent Thread!

This is very good to hear. Some progress in Afghanistan at last.

[redqueen]

5. I assumed it had been posted here...

I dunno what made me check today but I'm glad I did.

[Starry Messenger]

7. k&r

[riderinthestorm]

10. Aaaaaannnd another kick (and rec) back to the top for this excellent story! nt

[Sissyk]

11. This is wonderful, redqueen!

Especially considering where.

Thank you for bringing this to our attention!

[Sissyk]

12. Oh, and

KandR!