Life in Parliament - 2006 MP Attacked in Parliament for Denouncing Warlords! This report was written by an Afghan When Malalai Joya dared say in journalist in Kabul, who–for security parliament that some muja- reasons–wishes to remain anonymous. hadeen “had killed tens of thous- n May 7, 2006, Malalai Joya re- ands of innocent people,” several sponded in parliament to a of the assembled warlord MPs Owarlord who referred to the cried out that she was prostitute brutal and criminal atrocities of the and a communist and should be mujahaeen regime as “mistakes.” Joya said: “There is a big difference between raped, stabbed and killed. mistakes and crimes.” She then said: These four MPs were among those who then hurled bottles at her: “There were two types of mujaha- deen, one who were really mujaha- deen, and the second who killed tens of thousands of innocent people and used the holy war of Afghans against the Soviet Union as a motive to gain power and destroyed our country.” When her speech finished, some MPs hurled bottles at her, including: • Parwin Durranai, a woman MP who– with the help of Saudi Wahabis–was P.Durranai Q.N.Ahmad S.Niazai M.Ishaqzai granted a seat in parliament to repre- Those supporting Joya have received death threats because of the sent Afghan nomads. also received death threats. Mr. press conference they held for Joya • Qazi Nazir Ahmad, a commander of Qazizada, an MP from Herat, told Joya after she was attacked by warlords. Rabbani’s Jamiat-e-Islami gang, an that if he is killed, it would be by war- Islamic party in power (1992-1996). lord Ismail Khan’s followers. A Kabul- Source: May 9, 2006. Malalai Joya • Saifoor Niazai, an executive member based journalist’s association said they website: www.malalaijoya.com of Jamiat e Islami in Mazar e Sharif (a northern Afghan city). Some Women MPs Walk Out in Protest • Malali Ishaqzai from Qandahar, the unofficial capital of the Taliban. By Jean MacKenzie and Wahidullah Some well-respected MPs Amani. quickly formed a human ring around he attack against Joya in parliament Joya and called for security forces. Tsparked a walkout of female mem- However, other warlords imme- bers. On May 9, 2006, they boycotted diately began insulting her with foul the parliamentary session for several language, calling her a prostitute and hours, until the speaker, Younis ordering their followers to rape her. Qanooni, himself a prominent figure Some warlords yelled at Joya, calling from the mujahedin era, apologised. her a communist and accusing her of “There were about 30 or 40 of being a member of the Revolutionary us,” said Shukria Paikan Ahmadi, a Association of Women of Afghanistan. deputy from Kunduz. [Editor’s note: Shukria Barakzai, a woman MP That is about half of the women MPs.] from Kabul, later confirmed during an “The mujahedin are always intimi- interview with Tolo TV, that warlords dating us and we can’t say what we had threatened to rape and kill Joya. want. When a women was speaking, Shukria Paikan Ahmadi According to another MP, a fa- a commander [warlord] from Herat “We cannot accept this... We just do mous warlord–Rasul Sayyaf–ordered told her to be quiet, otherwise they’d not have the patience. It would be someone to wait by the door and knife do to her what they did to Malalai better to leave parliament forever.” Joya as she walked out. [Joya].... The warlords are a majority [Burhanuddin] Rabbani and in parliament. And even though they Source: “Afghanistan’s Buzkashi Par- Sayyaf, two gang leaders [warlords] are all from different factions, in this liament,” Afghan Recovery Report, who had committed atrocities under the they are together. They are all May 17, 2006. Institute for War and name of Islam and jihad, unsuccessfully against us, against the women.” Peace Reporting. tried to use Joya’s speech as a reason Ahmadi described as “savage” www.afghanwomensmission.org/ to discuss her status in parliament. the behaviour of those attacking Joya: news/index.php?articleID=60 40 Press for Conversion! (Issue # 59) September 2006.