Malalai Joya

Malalai Joya, born on April 25, 1978, in Farah Province, Afghanistan, is an Afghan women's rights activist and former member of parliament. She gained international attention in 2003 when, at age 25, she publicly denounced the presence of warlords in the Afghan government at the Loya Jirga (grand assembly). She was the youngest member elected to the Afghan parliament in 2005 but was suspended in 2007 for her criticisms of the government. Joya has been named one of the '100 Global Thinkers' by Foreign Policy magazine and has received numerous awards for her courage and activism. Despite multiple assassination attempts, she continues to advocate for women's rights and democracy in Afghanistan from exile.