Green Party condemns dismissal of Afghan human rights campaigner
OTTAWA – Green Party leader Elizabeth May today called on the federal government to send a strong protest message to the government of Afghanistan over the dismissal of human rights campaigner Malalai Joya from the country's Parliament.
"We understand that it takes time and training to nurture and maintain a culture of democracy," said Ms. May, "but Afghanistan's progress in improving the quality of its political leaders has been extremely disappointing.
"More specifically, it is appalling to see one of the country's best known and most respected parliamentarians booted out of the legislature when the government of President Karzai has done so little to weed out those who are incompetent or have criminal histories. Malalai Joya fights for responsible government and her removal sends a very negative message about Afghanistan's progress towards representative democracy."
Malalai Joya is one of the 68 women who were elected to Afghanistan's Parliament. She has been ousted mainly because of her outspoken stand on the warlords and assorted war criminals in the Karzai government. Her relentless campaign against the presence of human rights violators in government, including many former Mujahideen fighters and commanders, has made her the target of several assassination attempts.
"The true test of the Karzai government," said Joe Foster, Green Party Human Rights critic, "will be to what extent all Afghans, especially women, gain the right of freedom of speech, health and education.
"It is estimated that about 51 per cent of Afghan males are literate compared with only 21 percent of females. And the latest statistics show that while most Afghan boys attend school, that right is extended to only about one-third of girls.
"Malalai Joya and campaigners like her are Afghanistan's best hope of correcting that imbalance. Canada must stand up to ensure that this important voice for human rights is not silenced."
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