She was one of the first female mayors in Afghanistan, the youngest to be elected at the age of 26. Threats, numerous assassination attempts and the murder of her father did not stop Zarifa Gafari from doing her job. But last August, after the Taliban came to power, she was forced to flee her country.
"The day Kabul fell, I saw how everything changed inside Howard, it was a shock. "It's a shock, and it will remain a shock," he told Euronews.
She managed to escape with her family hidden in a car. During the trip, she hid on the floor of the car, covering herself every time they passed a Taliban checkpoint. He finally managed to reach Germany.
"I was trying to persuade my family to let me be there. I was at least trying to find a way not to leave, you know? And I expected to have at least one small message so I could stay. But it never happened. I had to go. And the moment I got on the plane, it was harder than losing my father. When I got on the plane, I left all my family members, one big member of my family, who is my nation, Afghanistan, who are my compatriots, my wives and my children in a big fire and I watched them from so much "They burn away in the file and I can do nothing," he said.
Now, she is trying to push the international community for women's rights in Afghanistan. Zarifa was in Brussels to take part in the "State of Europe", a conference organized by the "Friends of Europe". And it sends a message to the West.
"Stop talking to the Taliban government. It gives them recognition and gives them strength. And it motivates them to do whatever they want to do in Afghanistan. "And if you give money directly, how do you know they will use it for the good of the people?"
Zarifa's dream is to return to Afghanistan one day. But until then, she will continue to fight for women's rights.
gr.euronews.com