Sharifa Akhlas, an Afghan journalist who spoke out against the Taliban’s abuse of women, was one of three women to win the International Women’s Media Foundation Courage in Journalism award on Wednesday.
In 1998, Akhlas was arrested and beaten by the Taliban and forced to flee to Pakistan after she defied their ban on women working outside the home to file regular reports of the deteriorating situation of women under Taliban rule.
Akhlas is one of many female Afghan journalists who the Taliban has attempted to silence through threats and violence. Another Afghan journalist, Nazira Karimi, recently gained refugee status for herself and her family with the help of FMF after undergoing a similar ordeal.
