Afghan Woman Wants to Be President - East Idaho News
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Afghan Woman Wants to Be President

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GETTY 10313 FawziaKoofi?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1380789259700SHAH MARAI/AFP/Getty Images(KABUL, Afghanistan) — Women in Afghanistan have made substantial progress since the Taliban was ousted by the U.S.-led invasion in late 2001.  But is the country ready for a woman president?

Fawzia Koofi appears willing to give it a try despite all the odds stacked against her.

The 38-year-old has been a member of the Afghan parliament and served as its first female Deputy Speaker since 2005, a remarkable achievement given that women had never before ascended to such heights of political power.

However, Koofi also understands the danger that women in any position of authority encounter from the Taliban, which has marked them for death.

Nonetheless, she is a tireless advocate for women’s and children’s rights, contending that the only way to achieve progress is by challenging every facet of Afghanistan’s still male-dominated society.

Koofi is also not afraid to speak up against the U.S., arguing that the Obama administration is abandoning her country at its greatest time of need.

In spite of facing criticism at home, Koofi won’t give up being outspoken or setting her sights on the presidency when campaigning for next year’s national elections gets underway.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

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