Zakia Ahmad “River”, an Australia-based refugee, has become the first Afghan woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, according to her expedition organizers.
Ahmad reached the 8,849-meter (29,032-foot) peak at 7:20 a.m. local time on May 21, completing a climb she said was intended to raise awareness about women’s rights, refugee resilience and mental health.
A student at Victoria University in Melbourne, Ahmad had described her Everest expedition as an effort to inspire Afghan women and girls, particularly as they face sweeping restrictions under Taliban rule.
Her path to the world’s highest mountain followed a turbulent childhood in Afghanistan. Ahmad has said she survived a Taliban attack on a bus traveling to Kabul as a teenager, an experience that later shaped her advocacy and contributed to her decision to seek refuge in Australia.
In the months leading up to the expedition, she trained extensively and raised funds to support the climb. She said she hoped becoming the first Afghan woman to summit Everest would draw international attention to the challenges and aspirations of Afghan women.
Her expedition company confirmed the successful ascent and described it as a milestone for both Afghanistan and women seeking to overcome barriers through adventure and sport.
Ahmad’s achievement comes at a time when women and girls in Afghanistan face some of the world’s most severe restrictions on education, employment and public life, giving the accomplishment significance beyond mountaineering.
