Afghan Taekwondo Champion Faces Death Threats For Criticizing Taliban
Marzieh Hamidi, who now lives in Paris under police protection, came under attack after she suggested the Afghan men’s cricket team didn’t represent women in her country. Marzieh Hamidi is not alone in her struggle to end gender apartheid in Afghanistan.
A 21-year-old Afghan Taekwondo champion has received over 5,000 threat calls and messages for criticising the Taliban’s ban on women’s sports. Marzieh Hamidi, who now lives in Paris under police protection, was targeted and harassed online after she suggested the Afghan men’s cricket team didn’t represent women in her country.
“Taekwondo gives me more identity as a woman,” Ms Hamidi told CNN. She condemned the Taliban-controlled Afghan men’s cricket team as “the Taliban team for me, not the Afghan team,” calling for a ban on all Afghan sports teams from international competitions.
