Zarifa Ghafari
Afghan activist and politician, former mayor
Zarifa Ghafari is an Afghan activist, politician, and entrepreneur. In November 2019, she became the mayor of Maidan Shahr, the capital city of the Wardak Province, Afghanistan. She is one of the only female mayors in Afghan history and the youngest – appointed at age 26. She is known for her efforts to advance women’s rights in Afghanistan. Following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan’s government in mid-August 2021, Zarifa fled with her husband, mother, and five sisters. The German government granted her asylum, and she now resides in Germany.