‘Let the Afghan girls go to school’: Boise refugee organizes rally at Idaho Capitol
On Aug. 15, 2021, Najibullah Amani made the difficult decision to leave his home country.
Amani, 33, had worked alongside the U.S. Army in Afghanistan for eight years as a pilot during Operation Enduring Freedom, which began in 2001 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to dismantle the Taliban regime and target al-Qaida.
During the fall of Kabul last year, when the Taliban returned to power and seized the capital, Amani followed orders to fly his plane out of the country. Following those orders meant he had to leave behind his wife and two children.
More than a year later, Amani has settled as a refugee in Boise and works as a legal assistant for the Afghan Response Project.
With the recent increase in restrictions on female education in Afghanistan, Amani continues to advocate for his community back home — where his family remains.
On Thursday, Amani organized a rally — “Let the Afghan girls go to school” — at the steps of the Idaho Capitol to stand in solidarity with his wife, daughter and all the Afghan women who are barred from seeking an education under the Taliban, the group’s latest move as it clamps down on the rights of females in many facets of life.
The group of demonstrators gathered at noon in subfreezing weather.
“I know right now Afghanistan … is the home of al-Qaida, but the people of Afghanistan are not terrorists,” he said at the rally. “I was a former pilot in Afghanistan. I fought against the terrorism because of freedom, democracy, education, human rights and women’s rights.”
In a news release, Amani said his wife’s life mission is to teach. She continues to advocate for female education in Afghanistan despite new restrictions, he said.
Amani said he does not think it is fair that his son should be able to receive an education while his daughter should stay home, and said he will continue to voice his support for women in his home nation, even from afar.
This story was originally published December 22, 2022 at 3:01 PM.
