Women's Rights Activist Murdered in Pakistan


Farida Afridi at work in her office.
(Peshawar, Pakistan) In Pakistan's tribal region, Farida Afridi has been recognized as a fierce fighter for women's rights and social change. She was murdered on Wednesday.

Farida, belonging to the Afridi subtribe Kokikhel, was targeted on Wednesday morning at 6.30am when she left her house in Tehsil Jamrud Ghundi Kali for her office in Hayatabad.

“She was cornered by motorcyclists who shot her and she died on the way to Jamrud hospital,” said witness Abid Ali. Farida was 25.

Along with her sister Noor Zia, Farida was committed to social change and economic emancipation for women from the platform of a welfare organisation called the Society for Appraisal and Women Empowerment in Rural Areas (SAWERA). Both women were among the founding members of the NGO and had a Masters degree in Gender Studies.

Farida Afridi was a brave woman.

R.I.P.