Zarifa Ghafari

Zarifa Ghafari (Pashto: ظریفه غفاری‎‎) is an Afghan advocate, activist, politician and entrepreneur.[1] She is the current mayor of Maidan Shahr, capital city of the Wardak Province, Afghanistan.[2] Zarifa is one of the few Afghanistani female mayors, and also is the youngest to be appointed at the age of 26. She is known for her efforts in empowering women's rights in Afghanistan.[3] Zarifa was chosen as an International Woman of Courage in 2020 by the US Secretary of State.[4]

Zarifa Ghafari
Born
Paktia Province
NationalityAfghan
Alma materUniversity of Punjab
OccupationEntrepreneur
Mayor
AwardsInternational Woman of Courage

Career

She attended Halima Khazan High School in Paktia Province for her primary education and pursued her higher studies at the University of Punjab.[1]

She was officially appointed as the mayor of Maidan Shahr in July 2018 by the incumbent President Ashraf Ghani.[5] However, her term as mayor of Maiden Shahr had to be delayed for a period of nine months due to intervention of other powerful politicians.[6] On her very first day as mayor, she faced harassment from a group of men who mobbed her office and warned her to resign from the position.[7] She also faced death threats from Taliban and ISIL after assuming her duties as mayor.[8] Zarifa was sworn in as mayor of the Maidan Shahr in March 2019. Zarifa was able to introduce an anti-litter campaign in her town and she is a role model to other women.[4]

Awards

She was listed in 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world for 2019 by BBC.[9] Zarifa was chosen as an International Woman of Courage in 2020 by the US Secretary of State.[4]

References
  1. "Database of Zarifa Ghafari". www.afghan-bios.info. Retrieved 2019-11-20.
  2. News, Ariana. "ROKH: Interview with Zarifa Ghafari, the Mayor of Maidan Wardak province". Ariana News. Retrieved 2019-11-20.
  3. "Education Is the Key to Empowering Afghan Women". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 2019-11-20.
  4. "2020 International Women of Courage Award". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  5. "Female Mayor in Afghanistan Anticipates Her Impending Assassination". therealistwoman. 2019-10-23. Retrieved 2019-11-20.
  6. "Newly-appointed female Afghan mayor barred from taking office". The Khaama Press News Agency. 2018-12-16. Retrieved 2019-11-20.
  7. Faizi, Fatima; Nordland, Rod (2019-10-04). "Afghan Town's First Female Mayor Awaits Her Assassination". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-20.
  8. "In The Spotlight: Female Afghan mayor defies stereotypes, Taliban". news.cgtn.com. Retrieved 2019-11-20.
  9. "BBC 100 Women 2019: Who is on the list?". 2019-10-16. Retrieved 2019-11-20.
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