For the first time in the history of
Afghanistan, Rula Ghani, a person with a Christian faith becomes the First Lady
of the country. It might not be a big deal elsewhere, but in Afghanistan, home
to many Muslim extremists, it is nearly something unimaginable. It is hard to
predict how well she will fit into the society, but what is clear is that it
marks the starting step of a long walk towards the freedom of religions in
Afghanistan.
Mrs. Ghani’s journey seems to be a
very long and an uneasy one because Christians are never welcomed in the
country. Afghanistan is a country where Christian converts live in hiding, are
being imprisoned and sentenced to death. Stories like those of Said Musa, Josef, Abdul Rahman and more are common in the region.
As the wife of the newly elected president, Rula
Ghani also stands to be the first publicly visible wife of an Afghan leader in
nearly a century. The last time the president came on stage with the Frist Lady was King
Amanullah (1919 - 1929). Although Mrs. Ghani has no intention of drastically
upending Afghan social norms, many moderate Afghans are hopeful that she would use
her role to strengthen the position of women in Afghan families.
