Plight of women: Hekmatyar’s daughter speaks up
It’s hard to imagine an Afghan warlord’s relative discussing peace in Afghanistan – but that’s what Maryam Hekmatyar – daughter of Hezb-e-Islami founder and 1980s Mujahideen leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar did at a seminar on Sunday.
Maryam, however, was more interested in talking about the plight of women in Afghanistan rather than her father. Talking to The Express Tribune on the sidelines of a seminar titled ‘The role of women in bringing peace to Afghanistan’, Maryam expressed concerns over recent incidents of abuse by US soldiers in the war-torn country.
Maryam also said her father had always been open to the idea of education for women.
“My father is not against women’s education, nor do we want to deprive women of other rights,” said Maryam.
“I have done a Bachelors in Dental Surgery. Had my father been against women’s education, he would not have educated me.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2012.
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