Zala Zazai
Zala Zazai is a former Afghan police officer who worked in Khost Province. In 2021, she was named on the BBC 100 Women list.[1]
Early life
[edit]Zazai was born into a Zazai Pashtun family that did not support girl's education; however, her mother pushed for Zazai to be able to study.[2][3]
Career
[edit]Zazai trained as a police officer in Turkey.[2][3] She was sworn in as the deputy chief of the criminal investigation police department in Khost Province in June 2020.[2] Her appointment received mixed reactions from the community, as she was the first woman police officer in the province, which has been characterized as conservative and traditional.[2][3] In addition to her other duties, she investigated crimes against women.[4]
Zazai left Afghanistan for Tajikistan following the Taliban takeover of the country in August 2021.[5] She has since relocated to Europe.[6] She has remained in contact with other female police officers still living in the country.[5] She has continued to raise awareness of women's status under the Taliban, and has criticized the Taliban and their policies relating to women, as well as efforts by other countries to pursue diplomatic ties with the Taliban.[6][7][8]
Personal life
[edit]Some of Zazai's extended family stopped talking to her following her swearing in as deputy chief;[2] she reported receiving death threats from her father and uncles for taking the job.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ "BBC 100 Women 2021: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. 2021-12-07. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
- ^ a b c d e "Meet Afghanistan's female deputy chief of police". The New Arab. 2020-07-07. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
- ^ a b c "Afghanistan: Turkey-trained female cop gets senior post". Andalou Agency. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
- ^ ""They are the revolution": Stories of Afghan women fighting for their future under Taliban rule". Amnesty International Australia. 2021-11-25. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ a b "Amid violent reprisals, Afghans fear the Taliban's 'amnesty' was empty". BBC News. 2021-08-31. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
- ^ a b Mohnblatt, Debbie (2022-12-27). "Women fear they are disappearing from Afghan society". The Jerusalem Post. The Media Line. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ Alaan TV (2023-03-25). "Exiled Female Afghan Police Officer Zala Zazai: The World Is Willing To Make A Deal With The Taliban, Despite Human, Women's Rights Violations". MEMRI. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ "#BanTaliban Campaign Trends As Users Urge Twitter to Ban Taliban Accounts". Afghanistan International. 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
- ^ Jardine, Melissa (August 23, 2021). "The world must evacuate women police in Afghanistan". Lowy Institute. Retrieved 2023-09-20.