Afghanistan’s first female governor bravely stands up for women’s rights in her country.
When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 1996, Habiba Sarabi fled to Pakistan so she could continue her practice as a pharmacist and so her daughter could continue her education. During this time, Sarabi also made trips to European countries to publicize the plight of Afghan women. When the Taliban was forced from power, Sarabi returned home and in 2005 became the first woman to be appointed governor of any of the country’s 34 provinces. Since then, she has advocated for women’s rights and for greater representation of women in Afghanistan’s government, and she has worked to maintain relative peace in her province. This short film documents how Sarabi continues to fearlessly stand up against the Taliban and to speak out on behalf of other women seeking political representation.