Italian Advocates Plan International Sit-Ins – CISDA Helps Urgent Situation for Malalai Joya

Lys Anzia – WNN Features

- Malalai Joya at home in Farah, photo image Marie Dorigny -

A group of women humanitarians is asking for help from the world on the one month anniversary of the parliamentary expulsion of Afghan parliamentarian, Malalai Joya.

The Italian women’s organization, CISDA – Coordinamento Italiano Sostegno Donne Afghane, is asking for support worldwide on June 21. Their hope is that clear strong support from international women’s organizations and humanitarian NGOs will encourage public attention and outcry as groups arrange sit-ins and demonstrations to help the humanitarian work of Malalai Joya to continue inside Afghanistan.

Since the expulsion of Malalai Joya from the Afghan National Assembly Malalai’s security protection has been severely compromised. Even with this action Joya is still dedicated to continuing to help the people of Afghanistan, especially its women.

“It is not important if the numbers of participates are large,” said author and CISDA program outreach coordinator, Simona Cataldi, about the scheduled sit-ins. “As long as the numbers are coming from different locations around the world. We do know that Malalai Joya has strong supporters in the Western world as well as Europe. This action can demonstrate the world’s solidarity in helping Malalai,” she added.

For June 21, in Italy, sit-ins are being organized in the following locations simultaneously. These demonstrations are set for the cities of Rome – in front of the Afghan Embassy, in Milan – at the Piazza Cordusio near the center of the city, in Viareggio at the Casa delle Donne di Viareggio, in Bologna near the city center, and in Trieste – in front of the government premises. Spanish supporters are doing the same on June 21 in Madrid and Barcelona. Other locations include the General Consulate of Afghanistan in New York (with Human Rights Watch), the cities of Melborne and Vancouver as well as locations in Germany and Nepal.

Other sit-ins in cities across the globe are now being placed into motion for the same day on June 21.

In Sept. 2005, Malalai Joya became representative for the Western Farah Province in Afghanistan by election to the 249 seat Afghan National Assembly. Through her work for women and children, for the voiceless and disillusioned in Afghanistan, the BBC has named Malalai, “the most famous woman in Afghanistan.”

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