Malalai Joya has used courage and principle to continuously speak out against warlords, war and human rights violations within her country and beyond.

Barbara Lee, November 8, 2009

Dear Friends,

It is my honor to welcome you to an event hosted by Grandmothers Against the War honoring Malalai Joya, an internationally recognized human rights and political activist from Afghanistan.

As you all know, Malalai Joya lived in exile for sixteen years with her family and returned to Afghanistan in 1998 to set up an orphanage and clandestine schools and health services for women in Farah province. Her work in tl1e community garnered so much public support, that in September 2005 she became the youngest elected female member of Afghanistan’s National Assembly (Wolesi Jirga).