Shukria Barakzai is a prominent Afghan politician, journalist, and women’s rights advocate, born on January 2, 1972, in Kabul, Afghanistan. Since 1997, Barakzai has been a passionate advocate for women’s rights, emerging as a leading Muslim feminist.
She was the funder of the Underground/Home school in 1997 during the first Taliban.
Her remarkable career includes playing a pivotal role in drafting Afghanistan’s constitution in 2003 and working extensively to promote gender equality and justice. She has founded several important organizations, including the Afghan Women Journalist Association, the Afghan Women Coalition for Change in Exile, and the Afghan Women Coalition for Justice. These initiatives reflect her unwavering dedication to improving the status of Afghan women and creating platforms for their voices to be heard.

Barakzai was twice elected to the Afghan parliament, representing Kabul from 2005 to 2016. Her work earned her international recognition, and she was appointed Afghanistan’s ambassador to Norway, Iceland, and Denmark. Her leadership has also been acknowledged by global institutions, with accolades such as “Editor of the Year 2004” and “Women of the Year” by the BBC, as well as recognition by Foreign Policy as a leading global influencer in 2015. Her intellectual contributions were honored by Cambridge University.

Despite facing multiple assassination attempts, Barakzai continues her advocacy for justice and women’s rights. Currently living in exile in the United Kingdom, she remains a powerful voice for Afghan women, undeterred by the challenges she has faced. As a single mother of five, she balances her responsibilities with her ongoing activism, continuing to be an inspirational figure both in Afghanistan and internationally.