The Shipwrecked Princess

Throughout its history, Afghanistan has had several rulers who have worked to elevate the status of women in their society. Despite their best efforts, however, many of these attempts met with little success.

As the Taliban takes over Afghanistan, Queen Soraya Tarzi's life and achievements become more important. During her reign, she played a pivotal role in advancing women’s rights and education, inspiring many. Despite continuing challenges, her legacy endures.

The Early Years

Her grandfather, Ghulam Muhammad Tarzi, an Afghan poet and leader of the Muhammadzai royal house was banished in 1881 by Emir Abdur Rahman Khan, then ruler of Afghanistan at the time. Ghulam Muhammad Tarzi and his family moved to Turkey.

Soraya was born in Damascus on November 24, 1899, by her father - politician and intellectual Mahmud Tarzi - and an Aleppan mother, Asma Rasmya, the daughter of Sheikh Muhammad Saleh al-Mossadiah al-Fattal, the muezzin of the Umayyad Mosque. She studied in Syria and learned Western and modern principles that would shape her future acts and opinions.

A Royal Match

At the age of 14, She returned with her family to Afghanistan after the new Emir of the country, Habibullah Khan issued an amnesty for the exiled intellectuals immediately after he assumed power following the death of his predecessor. There, she met the King’s son Prince Amanullah Khan at the Qawm-i-Bagh Palace in Kabul.

This encounter would change her life. Her intelligence, tenacity, and courage would come to define her, and she would go on to become a trailblazer for women’s rights and a beacon of hope for millions of people in Afghanistan.

The two had a romance that culminated in marriage in 1913.

Following the assassination of his father in 1919, Amanullah ascended to the throne in 1926 and became King of Afghanistan and Soraya his Queen. Soraya stipulated that Amanullah not take on another wife, which he immediately accepted, although polygamy is permitted in Islam, and men are allowed up to four wives at a time.

Together, along with the guidance of Mahmud Tarzi, they set about trying to modernize Afghanistan. Everywhere Amanullah went, Queen Soraya accompanied him — from cabinet meetings to military parades. She was the first Muslim consort to appear in public with her husband.

King Amanullah Khan said, "I am your King, but the Minister of Education is my wife — your Queen".

Modernizing Afghanistan & Women’s Rights

In the early 20th century, Kabul was a city of stark contrasts. Despite gaining independence from the British Empire in 1919, Afghanistan preserved many of the European modes of life. The city has upscale hotels, fashionable shops, sports clubs, and movie theaters. However, on the other hand, it was also plagued by poverty.

Women were permitted to appear in public without the veil, but the majority chose to wear it out of respect for tradition. Similarly, the city's aristocrats wore the veil at home.

Queen Soraya and her husband emerged as prominent figures, causing a substantial shift in the status quo. She was one of the first women to wear Western dress outside of the royal palace in Afghanistan but kept within the bounds of Islam, making sure every part of her body was covered modestly.

In one public appearance, King Amanullah boldly declared that Islam did not mandate the veil. This statement was a turning point in the country's history, opening doors for women to challenge age-old traditions. Queen Soraya Tarzi and other female members of the royal family promptly ripped off their veils in front of the crowd. delivering a clear statement that women would no longer be constrained by the limitations of convention.

This moment marked a significant shift in Afghanistan's history, where women began to reclaim their rights. She worked with Amanullah on Afghanistan’s first constitutions in 1921 and 1923 while campaigning strongly against both the veil and polygamy.

Soraya, Afghanistan's first lady and queen, is concerned with women’s rights and education. She worked to educate women about their rights through awareness campaigns and empowerment initiatives.

Soraya’s commitment to education and gender equality was further demonstrated when she sent 15 Afghan girls on government scholarships to study in Turkey and established Afghanistan’s first primary school for girls, Masturat, in 1920. In the following year, she opened another school, and in 1924, she inaugurated the Masturat Hospital for Women. These were bold moves, particularly considering the period in which they occurred.

Soraya made an emotional and captivating speech following the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919, the effects of which may still be felt today. Her statements were a resounding cry for freedom and empowerment, not just for males, but for everyone in society.

“Independence belongs to all of us… Do you think that our nation from the outset needs only men to serve it? Women should also take their past as women did in the early years of our nation and Islam... We should all attempt to arm ourselves with as much knowledge as possible”.

Queen Soraya emphasized the crucial role that women have played throughout the history of our country and Islam, and she urged them to regain their proper place in modern society.

Political Turmoil

In 1927 and 1928, King Amanullah and Queen Soraya traveled to Europe, where they were well welcomed. They met with heads of state, spoke to groups of students, and were extensively watched by the media. However, in Afghanistan, a debate was building. Photos allegedly showing Queen Soraya eating with foreign men and having her hand kissed by foreign leaders circulated across Afghanistan's tribal districts. This provoked outrage in the country's most traditional areas.

This was interpreted as an outright attack on Afghan traditional values and the idea of honor. The controversy surrounding Queen Soraya's actions fostered skepticism and resentment, emphasizing the necessity of understanding and respecting other cultural beliefs.

In 1928, the Royals returned to Afghanistan with a vision to modernize their country after a tour of Europe. However, things did not go as planned, and in 1929, the people revolted against them. The Afghan government's policy of sending unmarried girls abroad for education was viewed as a threat to traditional values and customs, which caused frustration and anger among the Afghan people.

The Shinwari tribesmen, a Pashtun tribe, launched the revolt, which resulted in attacks on the soldiers of warlord Habibullah Kalakani. Habibullah Kalakani installed himself as king and overturned all of Amanullah’s reforms.

King Amanullah and Queen Soraya left Afghanistan in 1929, seeking refuge in Italy after a brief stay in British India. The King passed away during their self-imposed exile, and eight years later, his wife followed him.

Today, they are buried together in the family mausoleum in the Amir Shaheed Gardens in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

Honoring Soraya Tarzi

Afghanistan faced several challenges during its reform attempts, including opposition from a powerful and fractious tribal and religious elite. Reflecting on this period, it's evident that the Royal Family should have approached change in a more nuanced manner, emphasizing the value of greater cultural sensitivity and understanding. Despite these challenges, King Amanullah and Queen Soraya, who were perceived as traitors by some, pushed for change.

Reformers came and went, They were all overthrown or killed.

During the first Taliban regime, Afghan women lived in fear and were forced to wear the burqa or have a male guardian with them at all times, which was a significant setback from Soraya's time.

Soraya's story represents Afghanistan's struggle to maintain its cultural identity and pursue progress simultaneously. As a woman in a male-dominated society, she was a beacon of hope and progress. Her exposure to diverse cultures and ideas during her formative years shaped her into a progressive thinker and advocate for women's rights.

Today, many young women in Afghanistan look to Soraya Tarzi as a source of inspiration and hope for a better future. Her upbringing in an intellectual and diverse household laid the foundation for her to become a prominent figure in Afghan history.

By sharing this story, we hope to foster greater understanding and respect for each other's values and beliefs, enabling us to work together toward a brighter and more equitable future