Afghan parliamentarian Malali Joya stood up to warlords in the parliament’s first session, accusing them of human rights abuses and refusing to be quiet when they told her to. It was just a blurb in most reports, but this article uses the incident as its main focus. It’s highly symbolic and female Afghanis looking on must be taking notes in their heads about the bravery of this woman. USA Today has this story.

The attack took place as the national assembly convened its first working session in the capital, Kabul, a day after the assembly was inaugurated. A debate erupted over procedural matters as well as the potentially explosive issue of warlords sitting among the elected representatives.

Malali Joya, a delegate, called for all of Afghanistan’s human rights abusers and “criminal warlords” to be brought to justice. Delegates responded by pounding their fists on the tables to demand she sit down. She refused, shouting that it was her right as an elected official to speak.

Another delegate, Sayed Mubat Shah, appealed for calm. “We have a big responsibility,” he said. “We all have equal rights. We are the voice of the Afghan people.”

The rise in prominence of many Afghan women heralds the beginning of the country’s path to nationhood. They are getting the education they were deprived of for so many years and slowly taking their civil and political liberties. The fact that Malali, who first rose to prominence on her defiant attitude, can stand up to hardened warlords in front of a national audience testifies to a kind of shock-therapy that’s flowing through the country.

Check out these couple of pieces at RFE/RL on women in Afghanistan:
– Afghan woman gain political foothold
– New parliament offer historic platform
– Women embrace chance to vote