Niloofar Rahmani, the first woman to serve in the Afghan military since the fall of the Taliban, was honored by the US State Department with the International Women of Courage Award last month.
Rahmani was one of ten women recognized by the State Department for this prestigious award. Among them were women’s rights leader and peace building advocate Majd Chourbaji of Syria, and May Sabe Phyu, who is leading gender equality efforts in Burma.
Capt. Rahmani was only 18 when she heard that the Afghan Air Force was recruiting female pilots. “I wanted to fly with my brothers, shoulder to shoulder,” she said. After completing six months of intensive English courses to prepare her for undergraduate pilot training, Rahmani earned her wings in July 2012, just two years after hearing about the Air Force’s recruitment of female pilots. She soon after became the first female pilot to serve in Afghanistan’s military since 2001 and the fall of the Taliban.
Rahmani’s father was a strong supporter of his daughter, but he also warned her about the possible dangers and difficulties ahead of her. “Go for it, but you must be strong,” Rahmani remembers him saying. Despite repeated threats from the Taliban and some conservatives to kill Rahmani as well as her parents and siblings, 23-year-old Rahmani refused to quit. “If you don’t fight for your rights, they will never give them to you,” she said during her visit to the US.
While visiting the United States to receive the award, Rahmani met with from First Lady Michelle Obama, the Navy’s Blue Angels, and the CEO of Girls Scouts San Diego. Rahmani then traveled to Miramar to meet fellow commanders and female pilots. Finally, she participated in the 59th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.
“We need females to be a doctor, to be in each part of society. And we need female pilots too,” Rahmani said. “I have the support of people all over the world. They know what I am fighting for. [The award] is for all the females in my community.”
Media Resources: State.gov; Washington Times 5/14/13; UT San Diego 3/9/15; Feminist Newswire 3/11/15;
