International appeal to support reinstatement of Malalai Joya
January 5, 2008

The case of Malalai Joya, the 29 year-old elected representative unjustly suspended from the Afghan parliament in May 2007, requires the urgent attention of the international community.
As activists and writers living in countries whose governments are at war in Afghanistan and back the regime of Hamid Karzai, we wish to express our support for Malalai Joya.

Ms. Joya has been an outspoken critic of the heavy presence of warlords and other anti-democratic forces in the Afghan parliament, and for this she has won widespread support. In 2005, she was elected to parliament as a representative of Farah province. Such is her popularity that when she was suspended from parliament, spontaneous demonstrations took place throughout Afghanistan to show support for her reinstatement.

Contrary to the claims of the NATO governments, Malalai Joya says that the West's occupation of Afghanistan has pushed her country "from the frying pan into the fire," empowering assorted warlords and criminals. Joya has also explained that six years of war have not encouraged the spread of women's rights: "We want liberation, not occupation."

We believe that the governments of the NATO countries bear a great deal of responsibility for Malalai Joya's security, as they created and prop up the government that has allowed her to be expelled from parliament. Because she has spoken truth to power, she has been the victim of four assassination attempts, and must travel clandestinely and under tight security.

We pledge our ongoing support for Malalai Joya's reinstatement and call on the governments of the NATO alliance and other countries with troops on the ground to pressure the Afghan government to reinstate her to parliament.

The world is watching the case of Malalai Joya, and she has great support amongst all those working towards genuine democracy and women's rights in Afghanistan.

=>Sign the petition at http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/ReinstateMalalaiJoya.

=>For more information on Malalai Joya and the campaign to have her reinstated, visit her website at http://malalaijoya.com/ or contact Friends of Malalai Joya (Canada) at malalai.joya@yahoo.ca.

Home Features David and Goliath Stop smirking, Bettman Books this week Essays & Reviews The Big Sellout Operation Filmmaker Salud!