Born: 1956 (Kabul, Afghanistan)
Died: 1987
Biography:
Meena Keshwar Kamal, commonly known as Meena, was an Afghan revolutionary political activist, feminist, women’s rights activist, and the founder of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA). She was born on February 27, 1956, in Kabul, Afghanistan, and her life tragically ended on February 4, 1987.
In 1977, while studying at Kabul University, Meena realized the urgent need for an organization that would promote equality and education for Afghan women. This led her to establish RAWA, an organization that still today strives to give voice to the deprived and silenced women of Afghanistan.
Despite the Saur Revolution in Afghanistan in 1978, which placed women’s rights high on the Democratic Republic’s agenda, Meena believed that there were no significant changes in addressing women’s deprivation in the country. Frustrated with the lack of progress, she began campaigning against the government in 1979 and organized meetings in schools to mobilize support.
In 1981, Meena launched a bilingual feminist magazine called Payam-e-Zan (Women’s Message), which aimed to raise awareness about women’s issues and advocate for their rights. This magazine played a crucial role in changing the narrative and challenging societal norms regarding women’s roles in Afghan society.
Meena’s activism extended beyond advocacy. She also founded Watan Schools to support refugee children and their mothers. The schools provided both hospitals and practical skills training to help women rebuild their lives and contribute to their communities.
In recognition of her leadership and dedication, Meena represented the Afghan resistance movement at the French Socialist Party Congress in 1981, upon the invitation of the French Government. During the congress, a symbolic moment occurred when the Soviet delegation, led by Boris Ponamaryev, left the hall in protest as Meena waved a victory sign. This incident highlighted Meena’s unwavering commitment to the cause of Afghan women and her defiance of oppressive regimes.
In the face of mounting danger, Meena made the difficult decision to relocate RAWA to Quetta, Pakistan, where she continued her efforts in opposition to the Afghan Marxist government.
Meena’s personal life was intertwined with her activism. She was married to Faiz Ahmad, a leader of the Afghanistan Liberation Organization. However, their pursuit of justice and freedom was met with tragedy when Faiz Ahmad was murdered by agents of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar on November 12, 1986. Less than three months after her husband’s assassination, Meena herself was executed. The exact identities of her assassins remain unclear, but they are believed to have been either agents of the Afghan Intelligence Service KHAD or Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s fundamentalist Mujahideen group.
Meena’s legacy as a fearless champion for women’s rights lives on. In a special issue of Time magazine in November 2006, she was recognized as one of 60 Asian Heroes. The magazine acknowledged her significant contribution to planting the seeds of an Afghan women’s rights movement based on the power of knowledge. RAWA describes her as someone who dedicated 12 years of her short but brilliant life to fighting for her homeland and her people. Meena firmly believed that despite the darkness of illiteracy, the ignorance of fundamentalism, and the corruption imposed on Afghan women, true freedom and equality would ultimately prevail.