Sunday, authorities said that a former Afghan politician and one of her bodyguards were killed after a nighttime raid on her residence in the capital Kabul.
Mursal Nabizada was a member of parliament in the US-backed government ousted in August 2021 by the Taliban.
“Nabizada and one of her bodyguards were shot to death at her residence,” said Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran.
“The security forces have launched a thorough investigation into the event,” he added. Adding that the former lawmaker’s brother was also injured in the attack, which occurred between Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Brave defender of Afghanistan
Former MP Mariam Solaimankhil declared on Twitter that Nabizada was a “brave defender of Afghanistan.”
She wrote, “A true trailblazer – a courageous and outspoken woman who stood up for what she believed in, even in the face of danger.”
“Despite being offered the opportunity to escape Afghanistan, she opted to stay and fight for her country,” the source continued.
Nabizada, 32, hails from the province of Nangarhar in the east and was elected to the Afghan parliament in 2018 from Kabul.
Hannah Neumann, a member of the European Parliament, tweeted in response to the assassination. “I am heartbroken and indignant and want the world to know!”
“She was murdered in the dark, while the Taliban construct their system of gender segregation in broad daylight.”
In the two decades since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan, women have held major positions across Afghan society, with many becoming judges, journalists, and politicians.
Since the Taliban’s return to power, however, many women in similar occupations have departed the country.
Women are prohibited from secondary and higher education, working in the public sector. And even visiting public parks and baths by the Taliban government. Which has rapidly pushed women out of practically all aspects of public life.
They have also mandated that women cover their bodies in public, preferably with a full-body burqa.
