Benafsha Yaqoobi

Benafsha Yaqoobi

Benafsha Yaqoobi (also known as Benafsha Yaqubi) is an Afghan disability rights activist. In 2021, she was named one of the BBC's 100 Women.

Career

Benafsha Yaqoobi was born blind in Afghanistan and became a disability rights activist.^[1] She studied Persian literature in Iran and then took two masters degrees in Kabul, before working at the Attorney General's Office.^[2] With her husband Mahdi Salami, who is also blind, she founded the Rahyab Organisation to assist and educate the visually impaired.^[2]

From 2019 onwards, Yaqoobi was a commissioner at the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC) until she fled Afghanistan with her husband in 2021 after the Taliban retook power. On their third attempt to leave, they made it to Kabul airport and traveled to the UK.^[3]

Yakubi has also worked for the education of visually impaired children.^[4]

In 2020, Yaqoobi was a candidate for the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.^[5] She was made one of the BBC's 100 Women in 2021.^[6]

References

1. "Blind Afghan activist fears for disabled people living in homeland". ITV News. 14 September 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
2. "Beginning of a New Era at the AIHRC: Nine fresh commissioners". Afghanistan Analysts Network - English (in Pashto). 20 July 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
3. Murray, Jessica (6 September 2021). "Disabled Afghans in special jeopardy, warns exiled campaigner". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
4. "BBC'nin 2021 yılı 100 Kadın listesi yayımlandı: Bu yılki listede Sevda Altunoluk ve Elif Şafak da var". BBC News Türkçe (in Turkish). Retrieved 15 October 2023.
5. "CRPD Committee Elections". WFD. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
6. "BBC 100 Women 2021: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.