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Afghan women fight for their rights to take seats in parliament

Friday 28 March 2014 12:20 GMT

When the Taliban ruled, women rarely left their home. When they did venture beyond their four walls, they wafted through crowded markets covered from head to toe in the all-encompassing burqa

In pictures: Afghan women fight for their rights to take seats in parliament

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1/10In pictures: Afghan women fight for their rights to take seats in parliament

In pictures: Afghan women fight for their rights to take seats in parliament

Afghan lawmaker Fatema Aziz from Kunduz in the parliament in Kabul

When the Taliban ruled, women rarely left their home. When they did venture beyond their four walls, they wafted through crowded markets covered from head to toe in the all-encompassing burqa

In pictures: Afghan women fight for their rights to take seats in parliament

Afghan lawmaker Habiba Sadat from Helmand in the parliament in Kabul

While most women in conservative Afghanistan may still wear the burqa, today's Afghan women have choices they never had before, like running for parliament

In pictures: Afghan women fight for their rights to take seats in parliament

Afghan lawmaker Toorpekai Patman from Kabul in the parliament in Kabul

In the last elections in 2010, 69 women won seats in Afghanistanís 249-seat parliament. The next parliamentary vote will be held in 2015, but first are the April 5 presidential and provincial council elections

In pictures: Afghan women fight for their rights to take seats in parliament

Afghan lawmaker Samia Azizi Sadat from Parwan in the parliament in Kabul

Under Afghan law, 20 percent of council member seats are reserved for women, who are also figuring prominently in presidential campaigns

In pictures: Afghan women fight for their rights to take seats in parliament

Afghan lawmaker Hamida Ahmadzai, who represents Afghanistan's colourful Kuchi in the parliament in Kabul

Throughout the country, including in the south and the east where the hard-line Taliban are waging a stubborn insurgency, women have been elected to parliament. "In our Parliament we have 69 women, that is a large number, bigger even than European parliaments," said Hamida Ahmadzai, who represents Afghanistan's nomadic Kuchi tribes

In pictures: Afghan women fight for their rights to take seats in parliament

Afghan lawmaker Shukria Kaihan from Kunduz in the parliament in Kabul

Despite being rivals, the candidates work together to improve their public speaking and messaging abilities for the campaign trail

In pictures: Afghan women fight for their rights to take seats in parliament

Afghan lawmaker Lailoma Wali Hakimi from Nangarhar in the parliament in Kabul

Despite the risks faced by female candidates, many of whom were subjected to violence and intimidation, women ran strong campaigns and garnered more votes than all their male opponents. As a result, Afghanistan is one of the few countries with quota laws where a woman was elected outside the quota

In pictures: Afghan women fight for their rights to take seats in parliament

Afghan lawmaker Najia Haimoq from Baghlan in the parliament in Kabul

"The men in Parliament might not always listen to us, but we can say whatever we want"

In pictures: Afghan women fight for their rights to take seats in parliament

Afghan lawmaker Sima Joyanda from Ghor in the parliament in Kabul

Where Taliban routinely stage violent attacks to warn voters away from the polls female parliamentary representants say that there are not afraid. "We have our rights and we have our free speech now"

In pictures: Afghan women fight for their rights to take seats in parliament

Afghan lawmaker Dr. Farishda Amini from Nimroz in the parliament in Kabul

Three presidential hopefuls have taken the bold step of choosing a woman as a running mate, including one of the front-runners

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