U.S. Responds to Broad Public Campaign, Grants Malalai Joya Visa!

March 24, 2011 - Afghan Women's Mission

A U.S. Embassy today granted acclaimed Afghan human rights activist and former MP Malalai Joya, a visa, a little over a week after she was initially turned down. The outspoken critic of the war in Afghanistan was informed at her initial visa interview that because she “lived underground” and was “unemployed” she would not be allowed into the U.S. for an extensive speaking tour, even though she had been granted visas 4 times over the past several years. Due to the visa denial, Joya has already missed all her events in New York and Washington DC and is now on her way to Boston to finish up the rest of her tour.   She will appear as scheduled with Noam Chomsky at Harvard Friday night and in Jamaica Plain on Saturday afternoon.

Afghan Women’s Mission’s Co-Director Sonali Kolhatkar responded to the news saying, “We are ecstatic and gratified that the government finally did the right thing and allowed Malalai Joya into the country so that Americans could hear what she has to say about the reality of the war, and particularly how Afghan women are faring under the occupation.” Kolhatkar added, “It is a testament to the nationwide campaign that was launched by our national coalition of organizations and individuals who worked very hard to put the events together and to bring her to the U.S.”

The Boston Globe and Harvard Crimson covered a rally by Harvard students, civil liberties supporters and peace activists in Harvard Square last night which called for Joya to be issued a visa.