Name: Dr Massouda Jalal Age: Forty-something Nationality: Afghan Claim to fame: The lone female Afghan presidential candidate
She failed to get the presidency two years ago. But she is back, challenging yet again her biggest rival, Karzai, in Afghanistan’s forthcoming direct presidential elections in early October. Massouda Jalal surprised everyone when she represented her Kabul district as a delegate to the Emergency Loya Jirga two years ago. She got only 171 votes against Karzai’s 1295, and though this time too her chances of winning are slim, the Tajik woman is not deterred.
Jalal is confident that among her supporters, there will be those who have grown disillusioned with the conflicts that have plagued Afghanistan for more than two decades and left the country in ruins. She believes her candidacy is very symbolic. After years of being deprived of their right to study or work, Afghan women are demanding a role in public affairs and she is represents that demand. She feels that due to the long years of civil war and unrest, Afghan women have suffered the most. Dr Jalal believes that it is their right to vote and to stand as candidates at the highest level.
Her main vote bank — women — make up 42 per cent of the 9.4 million Afghans who have registered to vote so far. Several million more are expected to register, despite efforts by the Taliban to disrupt the process. Nato has agreed to provide extra forces to help the 18,000 US troops who are maintaining security.
Not surprisingly, her candidacy has earned her admiration and support from other women. But what makes Jalal more than just another feminist leader is the fact that she appeals to many men as well. Her supporters believe that a woman can bring national unity because women were never involved in the conflict.
Born to an educated family in the Karpisa province, she entered the medical faculty at Kabul University. She became a psychiatrist in 1989 and worked in psychiatry and paediatrics at various hospitals in Kabul. During the Taliban regime, she headed a women’s programme for the United Nations, and began working as a health adviser for World Food Programme in 1998. Throughout the civil wars and Taliban regime, Jalal never left Afghanistan or joined a political party.
A mother of three, Massouda’s perhaps best campaigning tool is her husband, Faizullah Jalal, who is a teacher in the law faculty at Kabul University.
Dr Jalal knows that without a political party, funds and with no military power, she has a tough battle ahead of her. The male-dominated Afghan society is not sitting idle while she campaigns. The Afghan Supreme Court’s Religious Order Department has twice been asked to declare her candidacy as un-Islamic and illegal. She has received death threats as well. However, there are risks for anyone standing for election, particularly since voter registration in Afghanistan has been hampered by security concerns. Still, threats and the lack of resources haven’t deterred Jalal.
She failed to get the presidency two years ago. But she is back, challenging yet again her biggest rival, Karzai, in Afghanistan’s forthcoming direct presidential elections in early October. Massouda Jalal surprised everyone when she represented her Kabul district as a delegate to the Emergency Loya Jirga two years ago. She got only 171 votes against Karzai’s 1295, and though this time too her chances of winning are slim, the Tajik woman is not deterred.
