Wahida Amiri (born in 1990) is an Afghan librarian and an activist for women’s rights.[1] [2] Amiri runs a library.[3] Since 2017, her library of over 5,000 books is open in Kabul to motivate women to read.[1] But in August 2021, Amiri returned to Kabul to see the Taliban stopping girls and women from going to work and school.[1] She gathered a group of women and started a movement called “Spontaneous Movement of Afghan Women Fighters”. [2][4] In December 2021, Amiri made it on BBC’s list of the 100 most inspiring women. [3]
Amiri was born and raised in Kabul, Afghanistan and temporarily moved to Pakistan and came back to Kabul at 15.[1] When she moved to Pakistan she had to do many of the chores like cooking, cleaning, and scrubbing the floors.[1] After the Taliban was defeated, Amiri returned home.[1] Women and girls could now go to school and work.[1] Even though education was important to Amiri, her family thought taking care of the house and guests was more important. [1] Five years later, she was able to enroll into school with the help of her cousin.[1]
Amiri didn’t learn how to read until she was 20 years old. [1] She took her exams while taking care of her home. [1] She took them over and over until she finally passed. [1] Finally, she was welcomed into a university where she studied law. [1] Amiri discovered the English author Virginia Woolf and finally realized she held power in her voice. [1] When the Taliban took power again in Afghanistan, Amiri lost her job.[5]
The Taliban said girls cannot go to school.[5] They said women cannot have jobs.[5] Amiri organized women to protest.[5][6]