This Afghan Woman Sprinter Held Up A Powerful Message For The Taliban After Finishing Her Olympics Race
Afghan woman sprinter Kimia Yousofi has made a bold statement for women’s rights at the Paris Olympics, writing a note to the Taliban on the back of her bib.
Afghan woman sprinter Kimia Yousofi has made a bold statement for women’s rights at the Paris Olympics, writing a note to the Taliban on the back of her bib.
After running in the 100m qualifiers on Friday, Aug 2, the 28-year-old athlete held up the back of her race bib, which had the words: “Education. Sport. Our Rights.”
Since taking over Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban has severely rolled back the rights of women and girls, banning them from attending secondary school and university, working, leaving the house on their own, participating in sports, and even going to the beauty salon.
Yousofi was born in Iran after her parents fled Afghanistan during the Taliban’s previous rule from 1996 to 2001.
In 2022, Yousofi was granted asylum in Australia where she was able to continue her training.
A three time Olympian, Yousofi chose not to compete on the refugee team, but instead to represent Afghanistan.
The Olympic committee for Afghanistan has been operating from overseas since the Taliban takeover.
She is part of a six-member team representing Afghanistan that includes three women, marking a historic moment for the country.
The team is competing under the flag of the former Afghan republic, as the Taliban does not recognize the women athletes due to their ban on women participating in sports.
Despite finishing last in her heat with a time of 13.42 seconds, Yousofi said it is not about winning or losing but representing Afghan girls.
“I’m not for the result here,” she said after her race. “I’m here for Afghan girls. I feel responsibility for Afghan girls instead of Afghanistan because they can’t talk, they can’t have interview. They can’t do anything. They have to be silent. Why? No one can decide for others. I’m human. I decide what should I do. Not anyone else.”
“Our girls in Afghanistan, our women, want their basic rights — education, the ability to play a sport. They want to be treated as human beings. They want to be able to decide what they want to do with their lives. It’s been taken away from them for the last three years. I’m fighting for that,” Yousofi said in an interview with Sportstar magazine.
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