THE SQUIZ

Former Afghan politician Mursal Nabizada and her bodyguard have been shot dead in her home in Kabul around 3am Sunday, while her brother and a second guard were injured in the attack. Reports say a 3rd security guard ran from the scene after taking jewellery and money. The perpetrator and their motive aren’t known, but police said, “security forces have started a serious investigation regarding the case to find the criminals”. She’s the first politician from the previous administration to be killed in Kabul since the takeover.

WHO WAS SHE?

Nabizada was a member of Afghanistan’s parliament before the Taliban seized control in August 2021. Elected in 2018 representing Kabul, the 32yo was involved in defence and economic development policy. She was one of the few female MPs who remained in the country after the US-backed national government was toppled – most escaped to avoid becoming the targets of violence. Fellow former female MP Mariam Solaimankhil yesterday remembered Nabizada as a “trailblazer”, saying she was “a strong, outspoken woman who stood for what she believed in, even in the face of danger”. She also noted that Nabizada was offered the chance to leave the country but “chose to stay and fight for her people”.

SO THINGS AREN’T IMPROVING THERE?

No – particularly for women. Many who worked in professional jobs – such as lawyers, journalists and politicians – during the 2 decades that the US was in Afghanistan fled the country. But most of the 20 million Afghan women there have had to adapt to the Taliban’s harsh rules. Since May last year, women have had to wear head-to-toe coverings in public, ideally with just their eyes showing… That was on top of restricting women’s movements and banning them from secondary and higher education, public sector work, and sport. The Taliban’s encouraged Afghans to return, claiming they’re securing the country – but there are still terror attacks, including Wednesday’s deadly explosion at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul. Reports say it was just one sign of worsening security in the city.