Mahbouba Seraj's Nobel Peace Prize Nomination was a moment for all Afghan women

topic:	Women's rights
located:	Afghanistan
editor:	Shadi Khan Saif

Afghanistan’s widely respected women's rights defender Mahbouba Seraj’s nomination for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize brought necessary albeit short-lived attention to the plight of females in the war-ravaged country.

The prize was ultimately awarded to imprisoned Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi for “her fight against the oppression of women in Iran”. Both candidates inspire women and girls in countries where oppressive regimes exist and globally for all marginalised communities.

Though Seraj did not win, recognising the battle for females’ fundamental rights inside Afghanistan in the face of a brutally oppressive regime is a worthwhile development.

At 75, Seraj is a resilient rights defender representing a golden generation of Afghans that carries the legacies of a much better past of Afghanistan while aspiring for its revival. She has been at the forefront of women’s rights in Afghanistan since the Soviet invasion and the Moscow-backed communist regime in Kabul.

Seraj chose not to flee Kabul when the Taliban took over and faced them front-on to fight for women's and girls’ rights. She has been a vocal advocate for women’s rights to education and work despite the Taliban's gender-apartheid policies against them.

Even before the return to power of the Taliban, she actively engaged in humanitarian work with the Afghan Women’s Network and a string of other initiatives to mobilise the community and resources for the rights and welfare of the marginalised people in Afghanistan.

Although she has faced criticism for demanding the international community engage with the Taliban on human rights matters and other issues, the Nobel nominee has been steadfast in proposing a merit-based dialogue instead of complete abandonment and neglect.

Seraj's nomination might not immediately bring the much-needed relief and liberties for women and girls in Afghanistan. Still, it serves as a beacon of light for generations to aspire to. The award, well-deserved by Narges in Iran, might have been even better for Afghanistan. Women and girls in all small towns and villages across Afghanistan would hear her name and what she stood for - just like Malala Yousufzai in neighbouring Pakistan.

Even in the years of relative peace and democracy before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan saw many promising female athletes, activists, politicians and professionals removed from the scene by the group capture in Kabul. Recognizing exceptional women like Mahbouba Seraj on the global stage can help restore liberties in Afghanistan.

Image by Nk Ni.

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