Massouda Jalal
Encyclopedia
Massouda Jalal is a politician
in Afghanistan
, who served as Minister of Women's Affairs from October 2004 to July 2006. She was also the only woman candidate in the
Afghan presidential election, 2004. She has a background as a pediatrician
, teacher at Kabul University
, and a UN World Food Programme
worker.
, one of seven children, Jalal moved to Kabul
to attend high school. She later attended Kabul University
, where she was a member of the faculty until 1996, when the Taliban government had her removed. Jalal, a psychiatrist and pediatrician, also worked at several Kabul hospitals and, after her removal from the university faculty, as a United Nations
employee within the World Food Programme
. Her husband is a law instructor at Kabul University; they have three children.
, her name was placed into consideration to lead Afghanistan as interim president, but she placed a distant second to Hamid Karzai
, with support from only 171 of the 1575 delegates. Dr. Massoda Jalal served as Minister of Women’s Affairs from October 2004 to July 2006, and she has since vocally criticized the Karzai government for not significantly advancing the social position of women.
As an outsider in Afghanistan's power structure, Jalal stressed her independence from the warlords and past oppressive regimes. Although many of the candidates for the Afghan presidency withdrew from the race and called for a boycott of the election following reports of voting irregularities at some polling places, Jalal was one of the few candidates who did not join the protest. An exit poll taken during the October 2004 election showed Jalal taking about seven percent of the vote among Afghan women.
Jalal received 1.1 percent of the vote in the 2004 election, placing 6th among 17 male candidates. She was a member of the Karzai Administration from October 2004 to July 2006, serving at the Women's Affairs minister
in the cabinet
.
In January 2009 an article by Ahmad Majidyar of the American Enterprise Institute
included Jalal on a list of fifteen possible candidates in the 2009 Afghan Presidential election.
Although Majidyar wrote that Jalal had said she would run again, she did not run. Two other women Dr. Frozan Fana
and Shahla Atta
did run.
Between the two of them they got a smaller share of the popular vote than Jalal got on her own.
Politics of Afghanistan
The politics of Afghanistan consists of the Council of Ministers and the National Assembly, with a president serving as the head of state and commander-in-chief of the military. The nation is currently led by the Karzai administration under President Hamid Karzai who is backed by two vice...
in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, who served as Minister of Women's Affairs from October 2004 to July 2006. She was also the only woman candidate in the
Afghan presidential election, 2004. She has a background as a pediatrician
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
, teacher at Kabul University
Kabul University
Kabul University is located in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. It was founded in 1931 but officially opened for classes in 1932. Kabul University is currently attended by approximately 7,000 students, of which 1,700 are women. As of 2008, Hamidullah Amin is the chancellor of the university...
, and a UN World Food Programme
World Food Programme
The World Food Programme is the food aid branch of the United Nations, and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger worldwide. WFP provides food, on average, to 90 million people per year, 58 million of whom are children...
worker.
Early life and education
Born in Gul Bahar in Kapisa ProvinceKapisa Province
Kapisa is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan. It is in the north-east of the country. Its capital is Mahmud-i-Raqi, and other districts include Kohistan, Nijrab and Tagab. The population of Kapisa is estimated to be 364,900, although there has never been an official estimate...
, one of seven children, Jalal moved to Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
to attend high school. She later attended Kabul University
Kabul University
Kabul University is located in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan. It was founded in 1931 but officially opened for classes in 1932. Kabul University is currently attended by approximately 7,000 students, of which 1,700 are women. As of 2008, Hamidullah Amin is the chancellor of the university...
, where she was a member of the faculty until 1996, when the Taliban government had her removed. Jalal, a psychiatrist and pediatrician, also worked at several Kabul hospitals and, after her removal from the university faculty, as a United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
employee within the World Food Programme
World Food Programme
The World Food Programme is the food aid branch of the United Nations, and the world's largest humanitarian organization addressing hunger worldwide. WFP provides food, on average, to 90 million people per year, 58 million of whom are children...
. Her husband is a law instructor at Kabul University; they have three children.
Career
Although she was uninvolved in politics during the Taliban regine, Jalal emerged after the fall of the Taliban in 2001 as a leading voice for the role of women in Afghan society. A representative of her Kabul neighborhood to the 2002 loya jirgaLoya jirga
A loya jirga is a type of jirga regarded as "grand assembly," a phrase in the Pashto language meaning "grand council." A loya jirga is a mass meeting usually prepared for major events such as choosing a new king, adopting a constitution, or discussing important national political or emergency...
, her name was placed into consideration to lead Afghanistan as interim president, but she placed a distant second to Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai
Hamid Karzai, GCMG is the 12th and current President of Afghanistan, taking office on 7 December 2004. He became a dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001...
, with support from only 171 of the 1575 delegates. Dr. Massoda Jalal served as Minister of Women’s Affairs from October 2004 to July 2006, and she has since vocally criticized the Karzai government for not significantly advancing the social position of women.
As an outsider in Afghanistan's power structure, Jalal stressed her independence from the warlords and past oppressive regimes. Although many of the candidates for the Afghan presidency withdrew from the race and called for a boycott of the election following reports of voting irregularities at some polling places, Jalal was one of the few candidates who did not join the protest. An exit poll taken during the October 2004 election showed Jalal taking about seven percent of the vote among Afghan women.
Jalal received 1.1 percent of the vote in the 2004 election, placing 6th among 17 male candidates. She was a member of the Karzai Administration from October 2004 to July 2006, serving at the Women's Affairs minister
Afghan Ministry of Women Affairs
Afghan Ministry of Women's Affairs is a new ministry in the Afghan government which was established in late 2001 by Afghan Transitional Administration....
in the cabinet
Afghan Cabinet of Ministers
The Cabinet of Afghanistan is made of the heads of all the government ministries. The president selects the members of cabinet with the approval of the National Assembly of the country.-Current cabinet of ministers:...
.
In January 2009 an article by Ahmad Majidyar of the American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute
The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research is a conservative think tank founded in 1943. Its stated mission is "to defend the principles and improve the institutions of American freedom and democratic capitalism—limited government, private enterprise, individual liberty and...
included Jalal on a list of fifteen possible candidates in the 2009 Afghan Presidential election.
Although Majidyar wrote that Jalal had said she would run again, she did not run. Two other women Dr. Frozan Fana
Frozan Fana
Frozan Fana was a candidate in the Afghan presidential election, 2009.Her running mate was Mohammad Nasim Darmand.She had never held political office before...
and Shahla Atta
Shahla Atta
Shahla Atta is an Afghan politician, who was a candidate during Afghanistan's 2009 Presidential election.She told DiManno she and her family lived for 18 years in the United States....
did run.
Between the two of them they got a smaller share of the popular vote than Jalal got on her own.
External links
- http://mowa.gov.af/english/?page_id=30
- Frontrunner, New View Films, feature documentary about Jalal's campaign for President