The BBC has announced its 2024 list of 100 inspiring and influential women worldwide, celebrating resilience and contributions in various fields. Among the honorees are three women from Afghanistan whose remarkable achievements highlight perseverance and innovation amid adversity.
Zakia Khudadadi, a Paralympic taekwondo athlete, whose name is on the list, made history at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games by becoming the first Afghan member of the Paralympic Refugee Team to win a medal.
Born without one forearm, Khudadadi began practicing taekwondo secretly at age 11. Her journey to success, despite the Taliban’s ban on women in sports, symbolizes the resilience of Afghan women globally.
Hamida Aman, a media and education entrepreneur, was honored for creating the Begum Academy, an online educational platform that has provided over 8,500 video lessons in Dari and Pashto for Afghan girls who are barred from schools. In March, she launched Begum TV, broadcasting courses via satellite to reach more students. Aman’s efforts reflect a commitment to preserving educational access for Afghan girls under restrictive conditions.
Elaha Soroor, a singer and composer, is celebrated for using her platform to champion women’s rights.
Her anthem “Naan, Kar, Azadi!” (Bread, Work, Freedom!), premiered at the historic All Afghan Women Summit in Albania, sending a powerful message of resilience and empowerment. As a Hazara woman and former contestant on Afghan Star, Soroor’s career exemplifies courage in the face of backlash against women in the arts.
This comes as women and girls face increasing restrictions on their rights by the Taliban. In a new move on Monday, Dec. 2, the Taliban banned women from attending medical institutes.
