Latest news with #MursalSadat
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Malala Yousafzai calls out FIFA and ICC for failing brave Afghan female athletes in exile
Malala Yousafzai calls out FIFA and ICC for failing brave Afghan female athletes in exile(Image Source: Getty Images) Life for women changed drastically once the Taliban reclaimed control in Afghanistan in 2021. Schools were shut for girls, gyms were shut, and women athletes were not allowed to play and train anymore. Now, Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai is asking big sports groups to help Afghan women who had to leave their country. She says letting them play again is not just about sport, it's a way to fight back against the Taliban's rules. Groups like FIFA and ICC must now decide how to support these brave women. Why does Malala Yousafzai believe empowering Afghan female athletes is so important In a CNN Sports interview on July 1, 2025, Malala Yousafzai said that giving Afghan female athletes better chances to compete shows real 'bravery and courage.' She wants international groups to act now. She said: 'They can definitely find opportunities for these players to play, and this is a form of resistance against the Taliban'. The Taliban forbid women from sports, school, and public places. Female athletes have fled to places such as Australia but they are in exile. When Malala Yousafzai met the Afghan women's soccer team at the 2023 Women's World Cup, she felt their plight was especially tragic. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo She said: 'It was truly heartbreaking … while stadiums were full, there was a team from Afghanistan who cannot play in their country'. Malala Yousafzai points to FIFA ICC and international groups to lead change Malala Yousafzai sees promises already made. In 2025, FIFA approved a Strategy for Action for Afghan women's football. They said a refugee Afghan women's team will begin 'as soon as possible.' Malala Yousafzai calls this a 'significant step forward' but she says it must go further. She also says the ICC set up a task force in April 2025 to support displaced female cricketers and offered help via a special fund. But many feel sports bodies are slow to act. Afghan player Mursal Sadat said the delay has already cost them two World Cup chances. Malala Yousafzai believes that if FIFA, ICC, and others are bold, they can give these women a platform. She said: 'Playing and practicing every right for Afghan women is a form of resistance … against the Taliban'. Also Read: Taliban Bans Chess In Afghanistan, Calls It 'Haram' For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
Al Jazeera
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
UN official backs call for FIFA action on gender oppression in Afghanistan
Afghanistan's national women's football team have received support from a United Nations special rapporteur as they urge athletes worldwide to stand in solidarity as they fight their exclusion from World Cup qualifying competitions since the Taliban takeover in 2021. Many players from the team fled the country at the time because they feared persecution. The women's team has since been unable to compete internationally because FIFA rules require recognition by a national federation, and the Taliban-controlled Afghan Football Federation bans women from playing. The Taliban says it respects women's rights in accordance with its interpretation of Islamic law and local customs and that internal matters should be addressed locally. At a news briefing hosted by the Sports & Rights Alliance on Tuesday, Afghan national team captain Mursal Sadat highlighted the importance of global unity in the fight for gender equality in sport. 'If there is one thing that I would request from the athletes all around the world, it would be it is time that we unite together. And it's time that women support other women,' she said. 'It would give us a lot of inspiration and support because you guys have a voice to use and that platform is there to be used.' Sadat added that even a short video posted by athletes on social media would be a sign of solidarity against gender-based violence taking place in Afghanistan. Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on Afghanistan, said on Wednesday that he stood with Afghan women footballers in their call for FIFA to take action. 'I support the call by Sports & Rights Alliance for FIFA to take a strong stand against systematic gender oppression and ensure that Afghan women footballers in exile, who are barred from playing in Afghanistan, can return to international competition,' Bennett wrote on X. National team founder and former captain Khalida Popal said the players are not fighting against global football's governing body but rather seeking collaboration. 'Our platform is sport – together with everyone, with the media, with individuals, with organisations and with governing bodies and including FIFA because we are not fighting against FIFA or any other organisation,' Popal said. 'We want to work together to find the best solutions as using Afghanistan as an example to make sure the other countries, the other nations don't face what we have faced.' In 2020, Afghanistan had 25 contracted women football players, most of whom now live in Australia.
The Independent
26-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Afghanistan women players fight to compete in World Cup qualifying after fleeing Taliban rule
Afghanistan 's exiled women's football team have urged athletes worldwide to stand in solidarity with them as they fight for their right to compete after being excluded from World Cup qualifying competitions since the Taliban takeover in 2021. Many players from the Afghanistan women's national side fled the country at the time for fear of persecution after the Taliban took control of the Afghan government. The women's team has since been unable to compete internationally as FIFA rules require recognition by a national federation, with the Taliban-controlled Afghan Football Federation banning women's sports. The Taliban say they respect women's rights in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law and local customs and that internal matters should be addressed locally. At a press briefing hosted by the Sports & Rights Alliance on Tuesday, Afghanistan captain Mursal Sadat highlighted the importance of global unity in the fight for gender equality in sport. "If there is one thing that I would request from the athletes all around the world, it would be it is time that we unite together. And it's time that women support other women," she said. "It would give us a lot of inspiration and support because you guys have a voice to use and that platform is there to be used." Sadat added that even a short video posted by athletes on social media would be a sign of solidarity against gender-based violence taking place in Afghanistan. Richard Bennett, the UN special rapporteur on Afghanistan, said he stood with Afghan women footballers in their call for FIFA to take action. "I support the call by Sports & Rights Alliance for FIFA to take a strong stand against systematic gender oppression and ensure that Afghan women footballers in exile, who are barred from playing in Afghanistan, can return to international competition," Bennet wrote on X on Wednesday. AWNT founder and former captain Khalida Popal said the players were not fighting against global soccer's governing body FIFA, but rather seeking collaboration. "Our platform is sport. Together with everyone, with the media, with individuals, with organisations, and with governing bodies and including FIFA, because we are not fighting against FIFA or any other organisation," Popal said. "We want to work together to find the best solutions as using Afghanistan as an example to make sure the other countries, the other nations don't face what we have faced." In 2020, Afghanistan had 25 contracted women football players, most of whom now live in Australia.
Japan Times
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Japan Times
Afghan women players call for global support as they seek FIFA recognition
Afghanistan Women's National Team (AWNT) soccer players in exile called on athletes worldwide to stand in solidarity as they fight for their right to compete after being excluded from World Cup qualifying competitions since the Taliban takeover in 2021. Many players from the Afghanistan women's team fled the country for fear of persecution when the Taliban took control of the Afghan government. The women's team has since been unable to compete internationally as FIFA rules require recognition by a national federation, with the Taliban-controlled Afghan Football Federation banning women's sports. The Taliban says it respects women's rights in accordance with its interpretation of Islamic law and local customs and that internal matters should be addressed locally. In a press briefing hosted by the Sports & Rights Alliance on Tuesday, AWNT captain Mursal Sadat highlighted the importance of global unity in the fight for gender equality in sport. "If there is one thing that I would request from the athletes all around the world, it would be it is time that we unite together. And it's time that women support other women," she said. "It would give us a lot of inspiration and support because you guys have a voice to use and that platform is there to be used." Sadat added that even athletes posting a short video on social media would be a sign of solidarity against gender-based violence taking place in Afghanistan. AWNT founder and former captain Khalida Popal said they were not fighting against global soccer's governing body FIFA, but rather seeking collaboration. "Our platform is sport. Together with everyone, with the media, with individuals, with organizations, and with governing bodies and including FIFA, because we are not fighting against FIFA or any other organization," Popal said. "We want to work together to find the best solutions using Afghanistan as an example to make sure the other countries, the other nations don't face what we have faced." In 2020, Afghanistan had 25 contracted women's soccer players, most of whom are now in Australia.
Reuters
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Afghan women players call for global support as they seek FIFA recognition
March 25 (Reuters) - Afghanistan Women's National Team (AWNT) players in exile called on athletes worldwide to stand in solidarity with them as they fight for their right to compete after being excluded from World Cup qualifying competitions since the Taliban takeover in 2021. Many players from the Afghanistan women's team fled the country for fear of persecution when the Taliban took control of the Afghan government. The women's team has since been unable to compete internationally as FIFA rules require recognition by a national federation, with the Taliban-controlled Afghan Football Federation banning women's sports. The Taliban say they respect women's rights in accordance with their interpretation of Islamic law and local customs and that internal matters should be addressed locally. In a press briefing hosted by the Sports & Rights Alliance on Tuesday, AWNT captain Mursal Sadat highlighted the importance of global unity in the fight for gender equality in sport. "If there is one thing that I would request from the athletes all around the world, it would be it is time that we unite together. And it's time that women support other women," she said. "It would give us a lot of inspiration and support because you guys have a voice to use and that platform is there to be used." Sadat added that even athletes posting a short video on social media would be a sign of solidarity against gender-based violence taking place in Afghanistan. AWNT founder and former captain Khalida Popal said they were not fighting against global soccer's governing body FIFA, but rather seeking collaboration. "Our platform is sport. Together with everyone, with the media, with individuals, with organisations, and with governing bodies and including FIFA, because we are not fighting against FIFA or any other organisation," Popal said. "We want to work together to find the best solutions as using Afghanistan as an example to make sure the other countries, the other nations don't face what we have faced." In 2020, Afghanistan had 25 contracted women football players, most of whom are now in Australia.
