Who is Salima Mazari? 7 Things About The Afghani Woman Governor Who Has Been Captured

Who is Salima Mazari? One of the first women governors in Afghanistan, Mazari did not flee the country like several other political leaders and stayed on till the surrender of Balkh province, in Chahar Kint district. She decided to take up arms to fight the Taliban and has reportedly been captured by the Taliban now. There is no news on her current status.

Salima Mazari was one of the only three women governors of Afghanistan. Mazari reportedly fought for her province till the last. Chahar was the only district under a woman which did not fall under any of the terror groups. Mazari was also responsible for 100 Taliban fighters last year. She drew attention to herself often just for being a woman leader.

There is a lot of conversation going on about whether the Taliban will treat the women in Afghanistan in a different light than they did during the earlier regime. However, the women in Afghanistan do not feel safe for sure.

Here is all we know about Salima Mazari:

1. Mazari was born in Iran. Her family fled the Soviet war in Afghanistan.
2. She graduated from University in Tehran. She worked at the International Organization for Migration, before moving back to Afghanistan.
3. Charkint is her ancestral homeland. She applied for the position of district governor from the district in 2018 and bagged it.
4. She told The Guardian, "The day I was officially received in Charkint as the district governor, I was overwhelmed by the support.”
5. Mazari feels working for the province marred by political turmoil and war becomes even more difficult because of corruption in the system.
6. Mazari formed a military team to fight the Taliban as they one district after another was taken over by them.
7. Previously, she has survived several life-threatening ambushes as well as mines planted by the Taliban and other military groups.

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