Mursal Nabizada: 'Fearless' former Afghan MP shot dead at her home in Kabul

Ms Nabizada chose not to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power in 2021

A woman looks at a picture of former Afghan lawmaker Mursal Nabizada on her mobile phone, who was shot dead by gunmen last night at her house in Kabul on January 15, 2023. - Mursal Nabizada had been a member of parliament in the previous Western-backed regime who had turned down the opportunity to flee Afghanistan when the Taliban seized power in August 2021. "Nabizada, along with one of her bodyguards, was shot dead at her house," Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said on January 15. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP)Show less

A former Afghan MP and her bodyguard have been shot dead in a night-time attack at her home in Kabul, police said.

A brother of the former lawmaker was wounded in the attack, which took place sometime between Saturday and Sunday, officers said.

Mursal Nabizada was a member of Afghanistan's parliament in the US-backed government that was overthrown by the Taliban in August 2021.

"The security forces have started a serious investigation into the incident," Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said.

Former MP Mariam Solaimankhil wrote on Twitter that Ms Nabizada was a "fearless champion for Afghanistan".

"A true trailblazer — strong, outspoken woman who stood for what she believed in, even in the face of danger.

"Despite being offered the chance to leave Afghanistan, she chose to stay and fight for her people."

Ms Nabizada, 32, hailed from the eastern province of Nangarhar, and had been elected as a member of parliament from Kabul in 2018.

Hannah Neumann, a member of the European parliament, said on Twitter that she was "sad and angry and wants the world to know".

"She was killed in darkness, but the Taliban build their system of gender apartheid in full daylight."

Women rose to prominent positions across Afghan society in the two decades since the US-led invasion toppled the Taliban's former regime, with many becoming judges, journalists and politicians.

Many women in such professions fled the country after the Taliban returned to power.

Taliban authorities have rapidly squeezed women out of almost all areas of public life, banning them from secondary and higher education, working in the public sector or foreign aid organisations, and visiting public parks and baths.

They have also ordered women to cover themselves in public, ideally in an all-encompassing burqa.

Afghanistan's lost female athletes — in pictures

Girls and women in Afghanistan have been barred from playing sports by the Taliban, but some refuse to give up the games they love. All photos: AP

Women took part in sports including the Chinese martial art of wushu before the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Some continue to practise their sports in secret.

An Afghan woman with her cricket bat in Kabul. The Taliban have issued bans on girls' education and barred women from many types of work.

Female Muay Thai enthusiasts in Kabul. Afghanistan's former government introduced national sports programmes and school clubs for women and girls.

A Muay Thai competitor with a punching bag used for training.

A mixed martial artist with her trophies in Kabul. A female competitor has said she was forced to flee a tournament in the Afghan capital as the Taliban advanced in 2021.

An Afghan woman plays volleyball. The Taliban’s Sports Organisation and National Olympic Committee has said the authorities are looking for ways to restart sports for women.

The Taliban have enforced a dress code for women, as well as barring them from education.

An Afghan girl who once took part in taekwondo. Several women in the country used to practise martial arts.

An Afghan girl with her skateboard. Women in once enjoyed sports have faced threats from the Taliban.

Noura, a female footballer, says she was beaten by her mother when she was 13 after gaining national recognition as the best player in her age category. "That was the beginning of worse days," she says.

Noura later turned to boxing. She says she cut her wrists and required hospital treatment after the Taliban swept into Kabul.

A woman with the equipment she used to build strength while practising ju-jitsu.