Kabul, January 12: Ravaged by war and bruised by Muslim fundamentalism, Afghanistan is slowly emerging from its troubled past. Habiba Danish encapsulates that new beginning in a country where women are still treated as commodity.
At 30, Danish is Afghanistan’s youngest woman MP and her story sums up the pangs of a country struggling to break free from its past.
She lost her husband at the tender age of 17 in a terror attack during the Taliban rule. That did not deter Danish, who is eagerly looking forward to the start of the parliament session at the end of the month.
This will be the young lady’s second term in parliament as an independent MP, representing the Takhar constituency.
“ I am eagerly looking forward to the parliament session as I want to raise several key issues regarding the Taliban reintegration process and our political future,” Danish told MAIL TODAY, speaking in fluent Hindi. She was first voted into parliament in 2005.
Like many Afghans on the streets, Danish is also opposed to neighbouring Pakistan’s role in the country’s life and politics. “Islamabad has no role in our future,” Danish said in unequivocal terms. “I studied in Peshawar and I have seen Pakistani intentions from close quarters.
Why is President Hamid Karzai wooing the Pakistanis to settle our future? In my opinion, it is detrimental to the future of Afghanistan as we try to rebuild a warravaged country,” she claimed.
There are concerns both within and outside Afghanistan about Karzai’s moves to involve Pakistan in the Taliban reintegration process.
For this woman MP and many others in Afghanistan, India remains a natural ally. “Delhi should involve itself across various sectors to rebuild this country where it enjoys considerable good will,” she urged. More than a quarter of the MPs (68 out of the total 249) in the new Afghan parliament are women. This is one of the most positive developments in the country as it tries to emerge from the shadow of fundamentalist forces. For, during the Taliban regime, women were not allowed to study, let alone work.
It has not been an easy journey for Danish and many of her female colleagues. A record number of women contested in the September 2010 parliamentary elections despite many being inundated with threatening phone calls, including death threats from insurgents.
Despite the dangers, the number of women seeking representation in parliament rose from 328 in 2005 to 406 in 2010. Danish feels this is progress.
“ I got married against my wishes during the Taliban rule. Within 20 days, my husband was killed in a terror attack. But I did not lose hope as I wanted to contribute to build an Afghanistan where women enjoy equal rights,” she said, pointing to the 2010 election campaign where she claimed she encountered less prejudice than in 2005.
“ That is because people recognise what women in parliament have achieved,” she said. Danish received the highest number of votes among all female candidates in last year’s elections.
“ I made it despite everything.
Many women in parliament are better organised and have better management skills than many male MPs. Women are using the opportunity to make their voices heard.” But there is still a long way to go. A law to eliminate violence against women was introduced by the human rights commission, but is yet to be passed in parliament. Efforts to introduce a new marriage law for Sunnis and changes to the civil law have also been blocked by the conservative majority in parliament.
But Danish is not willing to let it go without a fight.
“ The Karzai government should focus more on ensuring equal rights, so that women can lead a dignified life. We will continue to press for that,” she said.
–Agencies