Malalai Joya’s Speech at 2003 Loya Jirga

On the day that democracy in Afghanistan officially died, I am going to see Malalai Joya speak at the National Press Club:

My name is Malalai Joya from Farah Province. By the permission of the esteemed attendees, and by the name of God and the colored-shroud martyrs of the path of freedom, I would like to speak for a couple of minutes.

My criticism on all my compatriots is that why are they allowing the legitimacy and legality of this Loya Jerga come under question with the presence of those felons who brought our country to this state.

I feel pity and I feel very sorry that those who call Loya Jerga an infidel –basically equivalent to blasphemy.

After coming here their words are accepted, or please see the committees and what people are whispering about. The chairman of every committee is already selected. Why do you not take all these criminals to one committee so that we see what they want for this nation?

These were those who turned our country into the nucleus of national and international wars. They were the most anti-women people in the society who wanted to [makes pause] who brought our country to this state and they intend to do the same again.

I believe that it is a mistake to test those already being tested. They should be taken to national and international court. If they are forgiven by our people, the bare-footed Afghan people, our history will never forgive them. They are all recorded in the history of our country.

Related Posts


View Comments

[...] she didn’t want to write a book about herself, and that although she had become famous for comments she made to Afghanistan’s Loya Jirga in 2003, there are many other activists, especially underground activists, whose stories she felt were more [...]

Posted by Muslimah Media Watch » One Afghan Woman’s Words: Malalai Joya’s Book Tour on 18 November 2009 @ 10pm

[...] of occupation to stand up against the warlords and defend the rights of the youth and women as she had in 2003: “Unfortunately Afghan civil society and women leaders were totally ignored in preparing [...]

Posted by Brave New Wave - Children of a Lesser Revolution Brave New Wave Karzai Government Once Again Ignores Women of Afghanistan on 1 February 2010 @ 9pm

[...] Joya, who famously spoke out against the inclusion of warlords and one time Taliban in the Afghan government, believes that Operation Moshtarak has little to do with the Afghan [...]

Posted by Brave New Wave - Children of a Lesser Revolution Brave New Wave Malalai Joya on Operation Moshtarak ‘It’s Ridiculous’ on 14 February 2010 @ 8pm

[...] Ms. Joya who dared to stand up at the 2003 Loya Jirga to question the inclusion of warlords and Taliban in the national government, now spends her time on an international speaking tour spouting one [...]

Posted by Brave New Wave - Children of a Lesser Revolution Brave New Wave Mousavi and Malalai Joya (?!) Make Time 100 on 29 April 2010 @ 7am

[...] Ms. Joya who dared to stand up at the 2003 Loya Jirga to question the inclusion of warlords and Taliban in the national government, now spends her time on an international speaking tour spouting one [...]

Posted by Brave New Wave - Children of a Lesser Revolution Brave New Wave Mousavi and Malalai Joya (?!) Make Time 100 on 29 April 2010 @ 7am

Leave a Comment

blog comments powered by Disqus