Designed by Amir Aziz
Biography
Meena Keshwar Kamal
February 27, 1956 - February 4, 1987
Human Rights Activist
Meena was devoted to the struggle for women’s rights and social justice in Afghanistan. In 1977, at only 20 years of age, Meena founded the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) which sought the full participation of women in all levels of Afghan society. RAWA also promoted democratic and secular principles while campaigning against Soviet and fundamentalist domination. As well, Meena founded a bilingual women’s magazine called Payam-e-Zan as well as the Watan Schools, which provided education and health care support for Afghan refugee women and children in Pakistan. Meena’s husband Faiz Ahmad was the leader of the Afghan Liberation Movement and was assassinated by fundamentalist forces in 1986. The following year Meena was kidnapped and assassinated. Accounts vary as to who was responsible pointing to either Afghan secret police or fundamentalist groups.
