Afghan Biographies

Gailani, Fauzia Fawzya Mrs Gilani


Name Gailani, Fauzia Fawzya Mrs Gilani
Ethnic backgr. Tajik
Date of birth 1971
Function/Grade Ex MP MNA
History and Biodata

2. Previous Functions:
Wolesi Jirga Member 2005 MP MNA Herat

3. Biodata:
Gailani_FauziaFauzia Gailani was born in an aristocratic family 1971 in  Adraskan Distrikt, central Herat Province. She is well educated and bagged most votes in the 2005 elections. She is a women's rights campaigner and runs a chain of professional fitness gyms in Herat. She is a mother of six. During the civil war of the 1980s, her family fled to Iran, where she realised her dream of attending school and decided that education held the key to her future, and that of Afghan women. Gailani pledges to form Afghanistan's first women's party. "Women are not seen as human beings in Afghanistan, but like objects that people can sell, trade or buy," she says. "There are not enough rights for women in this country: they cannot study, they cannot work." She is particularly opposed to child marriage, which is common in Afghanistan. "I can talk about it: I was married at 14, I had my first child at 15, and I hated that," she says. Gailani was her husband's second wife and had had ten children, six are still alive. Her first poster just said “Fauzia Gailani”, but her next poster said “Fauzia Gailani Saadat”, highlighting that she is a Sayed. The advantage of being a Sayed, a group that traces its lineage back to the Prophet Mohammad and is therefore respected by all ethnic and religious groups. Among the WJ candidates, 14 used the title of “Sayed” or “Saadat” in their name on the ballot.

Fawzya Gailani says her husband beat her when she won a seat in Afghanistan's parliament. He was jealous that she won more than 14,000 votes in the country's first parliamentary election in 2005, while he only polled 160. "He hadn't really beat me very often before then," she told AFP of the man she was forced to marry at age 14. "But he was so jealous that he beat me a few times. I left soon afterwards and I've never been back." Mrs. Fauzia Gilani was on her way to Adraskan district while unknown armed men abducted her along with four of her family members and 6 of her supporters (20100825) She was going for election campaign to Adraskan district on 20100825 afternoon when unknown armed men attacked her motorcade and took her along with nine others to unknown location. Five of her campaign workers were kidnapped by the Taliban, she said, and shot dead. Four were relatives -- three cousins and a brother-in-law. The Taliban claimed responsibility. She was released later. Fawzya Gailani was a candidate for the 20100918 Wolesi Jirga elections.

Last Modified 2011-05-15
Established 2009-10-12