2. Previous Function:
Deputy of special police forces overseeing gender issues (2010)
Afghan Film Director (20200826)

3. Biodata:
Mrs. Saba Sahar was born 1975 in Kabul, Afghanistan. She applied for asylum in the US and was granted a visa in 2001, but turned down the chance of a new life in the west when the Taliban fell. Sahar returned to Kabul and founded her production company, joining the brave few directors striving to rebuild the Afghan film industry, spurred by the promises of freedom brought with the arrival of foreign troops.

Sahar has served in the police department for more than 10 years and was recently appointed deputy of special police forces overseeing gender issues. Sahar trained as a police officer and still works part time for the interior ministry. Her films and television programmes have explored justice and corruption. She is one of Afghanistan’s first female film directors who has used her training as a police officer to produce critically acclaimed documentaries and movies. She has also been a vocal critic of the Taliban and the dominant role conservative men have over social and political institutions.
 

Three gunmen opened fire at her in her vehicle on Tuesday August 25, 2020. She was accompanied by two bodyguards, a child and a driver at the time. The bodyguards were wounded while the child and driver were not harmed. “She was in coma for almost 20 hours as she was hit with four bullets in the stomach ... now she’s out of danger,” said her husband, Emal Zaki.

She is married to Emal Zaki (DOB 1983) who is Executive Manager at Saba Film Production Company. Afghanistan. Sahar has children. She's become estranged from them.

Sahar has an American Passport.

She speaks Dari and English.