Sediqa Mushtaq, Afghan Women’s Rights Activist, Awarded Honorary Medal by Rotary Italy

The award was presented to her on Friday, April 11, during a ceremony in Italy. This honor is granted by the international Rotary organization to individuals who play an influential role in promoting justice, ethics, and the rule of law in their communities.

Ms. Mushtaq, in a speech shared on the social media platform X, emphasized that this honor does not belong to her alone, but to all women in Afghanistan who are fighting for the right to education, freedom, and equality.

In her speech, she said: “After the fall of the government, women in Afghanistan were suppressed, but I and many brave women chose not to remain silent. I believe every woman who resists is a source of inspiration for others.”

Sediqa Mushtaq also stated that living in a new country is difficult, but it provides an opportunity to continue the struggle for human rights, adding: “No injustice lasts forever. If we join hands, no one can stop us.”

This award comes at a time when women and girls in Afghanistan are facing severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban. Girls’ schools above grade six remain closed, and women are barred from many social, educational, and professional activities.