Afghanistan: Former female Afghan member of parliament shot dead in Kabul

Authorities in Afghanistan said a former female Afghan member of parliament was shot dead in her home in the capital Kabul in an attack over the weekend. The authorities added that an investigation was still ongoing to find the perpetrator.

Police said on Monday that Mursal Nabizada, a former female member of Afghanistan’s parliament, was shot dead in her home by unidentified gunmen over the weekend in an attack that took place overnight on Saturday. Nabizada’s guard was also shot dead, and the lawmaker’s brother was left injured from the attack, according to the police. Law enforcement added that they were not informed about the attack until Sunday morning.

“The police and security forces very soon took action and started investigation of the case,” said the statement by the police. The statement also said that no one has been arrested in connection to the attack, and the investigation is still going on.

Nabizada served as a lawmaker in Afghanistan’s parliament until 2021, when the Taliban took control of the country after the military withdrawal of the United States and western forces. Human Rights Watch Interim Executive Director Tirana Hassan said Nabizada remained in Afghanistan to advocate for the rights of women and girls in the country amidst the insurgent group’s rule.

“Angered, heartbroken by murder of Mursal Nabizada – a tragic loss,” said Karen Decker, the charge d’affaires of the Qatar-based US mission to Afghanistan, calling for those responsible to be held accountable. “I offer Mursal’s family my condolences and hope to see them receive justice for this senseless act.”

Friday last week, the United States pushed for the United Nations Security Council to adopt a resolution calling on the Taliban administration to reverse its bans on female aid workers and female high school and university students. The council held a private meeting at the request of the United Arab Emirates and Japan to discuss the recent policies of the insurgent group.

US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that the seriousness of the current situation in Afghanistan should prompt the council to unanimously adopt the resolution to condemn the bans and call for a reversal of the policies.