Zakira

Name: Zakira
Occupation: Women’s Rights Activist
Date of Birth: 1977
Date of Assassination: May 3, 2010
Place of Assassination: Qalat city, Zabul province
Person/Group Responsible for Assassination: Taliban

Life and Education:

Zakira, originally from Baghlan province, moved to Zabul in 2008. She was an activist for women’s right to education and had made significant contributions in this field. Zakira completed her high school education in Kabul and, ten years later, began studying Pashto literature at the Sayed Jamaluddin Afghan Teacher Training College, where she earned her degree. According to the 8am newspaper, on May 3, 2010, Zakira was beheaded by unknown individuals in the “Kharwarian” area of Qalat city, and her body was found by the police the next morning beside the road.

Activities:

Zakira was an enlightened woman who fought for women’s right to education. According to Basira, a former employee of the Zabul Directorate of Women’s Affairs, Zakira even had to struggle with her husband and sons to send her daughter Zakiya to school. Zakiya, Zakira’s daughter, says her mother solely worked for the education of women. She established 33 literacy courses for women and actively participated in educational awareness programs. Her last job was with the Independent Election Commission, where she worked in the voter registration card distribution department as a public awareness employee in Zabul.