“Afghanistan. Sharia. Women”: the Med-Or event with Maria Bashir.

On Monday, May 26, at 3:00 PM, the event titled “Afghanistan. Sharia. Women. An Extraordinary Testimony” was held in the Sala delle Colonne at the LUISS campus in Viale Pola, promoted by the Med-Or Italian Foundation in collaboration with the LUISS School of Government.

The event offered an opportunity to reflect on the condition of Afghan women under the Taliban regime and on the strength of those who continue to fight for justice, even from exile.

The event was opened with welcome remarks by Prof. Gaetano Quagliariello, Dean of the LUISS School of Government. This was followed by speeches from Marco Minniti, President of the Med-Or Italian Foundation; Federica Mondani, lawyer and advisor to the Minister of Defense; and Maria Bashir, the first woman to serve as Chief Prosecutor in Afghanistan.

A symbolic figure of women’s emancipation in one of the most difficult contexts in the world, Maria Bashir has dedicated her life to defending women’s rights, openly challenging the Taliban regime.

An internationally renowned magistrate, she continued her educational efforts even during periods of repression, offering clandestine lessons to young girls. Forced into exile after the Taliban’s return in 2021, she now lives between Italy and Germany, continuing her work as an activist and a global reference point for the promotion of dignity and equality.

The event was a unique opportunity to hear the personal testimony of a woman who, with courage and determination, defied fear to give voice to those who cannot speak.