Female Legislator in Afghanistan Attacked by Colleagues

Malalai Joya was physically and verbally attacked by her colleagues in Afghanistan's parliament yesterday after she said that some of her fellow lawmakers were warlords and shouldn't be allowed to sit in parliament. “I said there are two kinds of mujahedeed in Afghanistan,” Joya told the Associated Press. “One kind fought for independence, which I respect, but the other kind destroyed the country and killed 60,000 people.”

Several members of parliament threatened Joya with death and hurled empty plastic water bottles at her as the room erupted into a melee, according to The Times (UK). Joya was unhurt as moderate members of parliament surrounded her for protection, AP reports.

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Media Resources: Associated Press 5/8/06; The Times (UK) 5/9/06

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