Letters to My Daughters

by Fawzia Koofi

  Our heart is made bright by it

  This Afghanistan.

  This is our beautiful land

  This is our beloved land

  This land is our life.

  This Afghanistan.

  After the music and pomp of the opening ceremony was over, it was time to settle down to business. I was determined not to be dismissed as “just a woman,” so from day one I spoke up about issues and quickly gained a reputation for being both outspoken and capable. I also made it clear that I would work professionally and co-operate with everyone. Many men in the parliament were opposed to the women MPs and did their best to intimidate us. When we spoke, they would try to shout us down or, on some occasions, even walk out. They also tried to belittle any male MPs who showed us support. One male MP was shouted down in a debate on education after he backed the view of a woman. Other male MPs started to heckle him and derided him as a “feminist”—a huge insult for a man in Afghanistan.

  I’ve gotten used to those things now. The atmosphere in the Afghan parliament is loud and often verging on violent. A tug of the beard is an ancient way of telling someone they have offended you. Some days, an awful lot of beard tugging goes on. I have decided that showing hostility or shouting back in these situations achieves nothing. Instead, I have tried to create an atmosphere of mutual respect. I have listened politely to opposing views and tried to find common ground wherever I could. Democracy is about fighting for your beliefs, but it is also about learning to accept that sometimes you just have to agree to disagree.

  At the same time, I made a vow to myself never to lose sight of my principles and values. If you always go along with the popular flow, then you are lost and lose sight of what you believe in. My core values of promoting human rights and gender equality, alleviating poverty and creating greater access to education will never change. Sadly, some of the female MPs found the process too much. To this day, I still haven’t heard some of them utter a single word in the parliament. That makes me very sad.

  Other female MPs, however, became too outspoken. A young female MP called Malalai Joya was suspended from parliament in 2007. MPs voted that she had broken the parliamentary rules by insulting fellow MPs when she gave an interview on national TV likening some members of parliament to inhabitants of a zoo or a stable. I had admired Malalai’s ambition and passion and was genuinely sorry for her when she was voted out. I think most female MPs were. But her mistake was perhaps that she was too passionate. Serious legislative gains cannot be achieved by simply shouting loudly. Politics is a long-term game. And a clever politician needs to work within that framework. Co-operating, conceding occasionally and always striving to find common ground are sometimes the only ways to push forward legislative change.

  The day parliament opened, all the new MPs had to put our hands on the Holy Koran and swear allegiance to the country. We promised to be honest to Afghanistan and to its people. When I put my hand on the Koran to swear, I felt engulfed by the enormity of the responsibility.

  It pains me to say it, but given the rampant corruption that exists in my country today it seems not all of my colleagues took their vow of honesty seriously that day.

  The next day, the debate began for the election of leadership positions, such as speaker, deputy speakers and secretaries, which are highly important senior political positions in the house. I had already made some good friends among other MPs, such as Sabrina Saqib, who had the proud honour of being the youngest member of parliament. I told her I wanted to run for the position of deputy speaker. My feeling was that I risked nothing by doing so and that even if I lost, the very act of running would ensure that the new female voices were being heard at the most senior level in the legislature. Sabrina was supportive and agreed that it would be good for all the women if I stood, but she also warned me that I was unlikely to win and would face a great deal of opposition from some of the men. She also feared I wasn’t well known enough yet and did not have other big-name MPs supporting me.

  Next, I talked to my family, who also urged caution. Nadir, the brother who held the local political role of district manager in Badakhshan’s Koof district and had also wanted to stand for national election, was totally against it. He said to me: “Fawzia jan, it was more than enough for a woman to become an MP. You should not be more ambitious. If you stand for speaker, you will lose. That would not look good for the political reputation of our family. Politics is not just about you, Fawzia, it is about the political dynasty of our whole family.”

  Those words stung, but I understood what he was trying to say. Traditionally politics in Afghanistan is seen as just winning a battle or gaining power, not as a genuine means by which ordinary people can use their voice to demonstrate their will. In the past, if a member of one of Afghanistan’s political families lost in an election, it damaged the reputation of the whole family. But that was a risk I was prepared to take. This was a much bigger battle for me. It was a battle to serve the people of my country.

  Finally, I talked to Shuhra and Shaharzad. Here, I got the best reaction of all. Shuhra was only six years old and Shaharzad seven. Shuhra, in an early sign of her genuine political leanings, had a great campaign idea. She said, “I will gather one hundred children from my school and give them flags, then we will come to the parliament to ask the MPs to vote for you.” I gave her a big kiss of thanks. I was surprised how sophisticated her idea was for a child of six and extremely proud that she was already learning to think big.

  Shaharzad is a gentle and thoughtful child who reminds me so much of her father. She took my hand and gave me a long, earnest look as she said, “Mother, one of the women should have a senior position in this parliament. And it is better it is you who has it, because I know you are the best. I know it means you will be away from us even more and working very hard, but that’s okay with us.” I almost cried. It is exactly what Hamid would have said.

  I decided to run.

  The corridors in the parliament building resonated with talk of only one thing. Who was going to run for the positions? My candidacy seemed like a big joke to many MPs, especially the ones who had made plenty of money through war profiteering and involvement in criminal activities. This only strengthened my resolve to win the post of deputy speaker. The wealthier MPs started to court favour by throwing lavish evening parties at their homes and in some of Kabul’s smartest restaurants and hotels, inviting those who might vote for them. I didn’t have any spare cash for that kind of thing, and it had been noted that I was the only candidate who hadn’t organized an event. The night before the voting, my sister helped organize a small dinner party for me at a very inexpensive, low-key restaurant. It was by no means a smart place, but it was all I could afford. Around twenty MPs turned up. The night of the dinner was freezing, and the restaurant was so cold inside that you could see your breath when you exhaled. I asked the restaurant manager to try to sort out some heating. He brought out a very cheap, old oil heater called a bukhari, which leaked noxious fumes. The food was awful, cold and congealed. After a while, guests could barely even see each other because the bukhari was giving off so much smoke. I was extremely tense, but I tried my best to cover it up and be a good hostess.

  But when we got home, I shook my head and sighed, telling my sister that I’d blown it. After such a disastrous social function, no one was going to vote for me. Being able to entertain people and be a gracious host is an important part of our culture, and if you fail at it people judge you harshly.

  The children were already asleep. I climbed into bed next to them, but I couldn’t sleep. The voting was the next day, and all the candidates were supposed to give a short speech before it began. In the middle of the night, I got up to write mine. I sat there until the early hours staring at a blank piece of paper, not knowing where to start or what to say. Usually I love writing speeches and it comes straight from my heart, but not this one. I started to write, promising this and that, only to tear it up because it just didn’t sound right.

/>   All the candidates had been told to prepare only very short speeches. But I wanted to write something that defined me and my values, and it was almost impossible to express that in just a few sentences. Dawn started to creep across the clouds and into my bedroom. By now, I was on my third or fourth attempt; I looked at it again. It still didn’t work. I tore up the piece of paper and resolved to just ad lib. I was sure that once I was standing there in front of my fellow MPs, I’d know what I needed to say.

  The next morning, all the candidates and their supporters were running along the corridors of parliament making last-ditch attempts to win supporters. There were ten other candidates for the position of deputy speaker. All of them were well known except for me. Some of them were powerful people. Around 10 A.M., I had a visit from a staff member of one of my opponents, asking me to withdraw my candidacy and offering to pay me a substantial amount of money if I did so. I was horrified but sadly not shocked. How could these people try to win such an important vote by paying to win? And how dare they think I would be bribed?

  The plenary voting session started. I sat quietly in a corner just gathering my thoughts and watching the situation unfold. If nothing else, it was certainly an exciting scene to witness and be part of. Then, I was called to give my introductory speech. I walked up to the podium, aware of some male MPs watching me with either mocking or angry eyes. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my good friend Sabrina give me a supportive smile, which helped control my nerves.

  This was the first time I had given any kind of speech in front of the other MPs, and I struggled to keep my body from shaking. Then suddenly I remembered that I had won over eight thousand votes. I had every right to be there.

  As I looked around, my sense of confidence and self-esteem grew. I took a deep breath and started by introducing myself. Then I told them that I wanted to run for this position to demonstrate that women in Afghanistan are able to do big things and hold senior posts; that my mission would be to put my country’s interests before my personal interests; that I saw an Afghanistan that had been severely damaged in every way and needed new voices and new energy to rebuild it. I told them that although I was only thirty, I was not a novice and already had a huge amount of professional experience.

  I went on to say how much I loved Afghanistan and our culture, and how my entire commitment was to change this country for the better. I was talking quickly as I usually do when talking from the heart and I was so focused that I almost didn’t hear the clapping at first. Then it became louder. By the time I finished, several MPs—men, women, traditionalists, the powerful—were clapping loudly. Many MPs came up to me, congratulating me on the sincerity of the speech. An old friend of my father’s, a Pashtun man from Kunduz province, came and kissed me gently on the forehead and whispered that I had done my father justice. The reaction was so positive that for the first time I started to think I might actually win. I could barely breathe when the counting started.

  I won with a large majority. It was the first time in Afghan history that a woman, a “poor girl,” had been elected to such a senior political position.

  I couldn’t take it in. My face was as radiant as a blooming flower and for a moment I thought I was flying through the air. Suddenly, I was surrounded by journalists firing questions at me. What were my priorities on women? How would I bring change? How would a woman cope with the scrutiny of such a senior parliamentary position? This was my first real experience of a press conference and it was fairly intimidating, but I tried to answer honestly and clearly. I am not an MP who dislikes journalists. I think in our country many journalists do a fantastic job of sharing information with the public and challenging those in power, so I have always tried to treat the media with the respect it deserves.

  Over the next few days, I was almost besieged by media attention. No one had expected a women to achieve what I had, and I became a national novelty. But I was determined make each interview show that I was more than just a point of curiosity; I was a serious politician who was more than capable of doing the job I held.

  Next, Karzai announced his cabinet of ministers. The only female minister was Masooda Jalal, a former medical doctor. She had been the only woman to run against Hamid Karzai in the presidential race. She had lost, gaining only a small number of votes, but Karzai appointed her minister of women’s affairs. To this day, a woman hasn’t held any other mainstream ministerial post, something I find very disappointing. If a woman can be women’s minister, why can’t she be the minister for business? Or communications? Or indeed any of the other senior posts, provided she has the relevant experience, of course. Karzai did make one other high-profile appointment. A much-respected lady by the name of Habiba Sorabi had been given the post of governor of central Bamiyan province on March 23, 2005. She has since become a very well-known and popular figure in Afghan politics.

  With all the roles in place, the parliament opened for business. That was another truly historic event, and it was broadcast on live TV both in Afghanistan and around the world. As the speaker was not present, I had to chair the first plenary session. I looked around and once again realized that here I was chairing a parliament in which former presidents, ministers and Mujahideen leaders were all sitting. But I wasn’t nervous. Debating is one of the things I enjoy most in life, so to have the chance of chairing such an important debate was wonderful. I simply loved it.

  That day went very well, and afterwards a number of male MPs commented on how surprised they had been that a woman had managed the task of keeping order so well. They too now recognized what an important symbol this was for Afghan women and for the nation.

  But very soon the jealousy started. Some of the old MPs, the corrupt ones, are losing power and public support day by day. And they know it. These old-style politicians who use guns and intimidation as their means of communication could not stomach the fact that a young woman like me was growing in political popularity and influence. As I walked past them in the corridors or stepped down from the podium, I would hear them muttering, “What? A woman is chairing our parliament and we must just sit here and watch? She cannot be allowed to continue.”

  I tried to ignore them and started focusing on providing the services that voters had wanted when they elected me. The Kabul-Faizabad road, for example, was still a dirt track with no asphalt. I started to lobby for funds to build a proper highway that would for the first time link Badakhshan with the capital city. On a political visit to the U.S., I met President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura. I found Laura to be a very pleasant, warm woman and I liked her immensely. She seemed genuinely committed to civil issues—children’s rights, education for women, school-building projects, human rights. I got a sense that as a mother herself she understood the plight of women and children in developing countries. She asked me many intelligent questions about the situation in my country and listened carefully as I outlined what I thought she and the U.S. could do to help. I felt encouraged by her support.

  I also used my time in the U.S. to try to gain wider support for construction of this road. The U.S. ambassador told me he couldn’t make me any promises, but that my request had been noted. Four months later, I learned that the U.S. Agency for International Development had approved the budget for the road. I was thrilled.

  The road is now completed and it has improved the lot of Badakhshanis immeasurably. What was once a three-day journey to Kabul now takes less than a day. The road takes in some wonderful scenery, and I think it’s the most beautiful in all Afghanistan. Some Badakhshanis have nicknamed it “Fawzia’s road.” The road on the other side of the Atanga Pass is still not completed, despite my best efforts. I will not rest until this road is built too. I feel I owe it to my father to complete the dream that he so bravely started.

  In recent years, I have met several other famous international politicians, including Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron, the previous and current prime ministers of the U.K. I have also met Hillary Clinton twice. I find her an i
ncredibly inspiring woman who has a definite grace and power about her. I also met Stephen Harper, the Canadian prime minister, and Peter MacKay, the Canadian defence minister.

  I have yet to meet President Obama, but I hope I shall. Afghans followed his campaign and subsequent election very closely, and he became a very popular figure here. There was something very inspiring to us about his journey to become the first black president of the United States. Many Afghans also regarded him as someone who would favour negotiation over war and who had a very strong understanding of foreign policy and global issues.

  As the years have passed, I have made some very good friends and allies at the international level, among the fraternity of diplomats, aid workers and journalists. I believe we all have something to learn from each other and that co-operation between nations is essential. For too long, Afghanistan has allowed itself to be a pawn that is moved and shifted by the hands of more powerful players. I believe that Afghanistan can and will one day take its rightful role as a power player within the Asian region. As a nation, we need to learn to work more strategically with our allies and stand up to our enemies.

  We don’t have to be a nation that the world either fears as terrorists or pities as victims. We are a great people and we can be a great nation. Achieving this for my country is my life’s ambition. I’m not certain what God’s purpose is for me, only that he has one. It may be that he has chosen me to lead my country out of the abyss of corruption and poverty or simply that he wants me to be a hard-working MP and a good mother who will raise two shining stars as daughters. Whatever the future holds for me and my nation, I know that God alone wills it.

  Dear Father,

  I was almost four years old when you were martyred. In that short time, you addressed me directly only once, and that was to tell me to go away.

  I do not know how you would react to seeing me in the position I am in today. But I like to think that you’d be proud of what the youngest child of your favourite wife has achieved.