First female Afghan air force pilot seeks asylum in US

Wednesday 04th January 2017 06:32 EST
 

KABUL: Afghanistan's first female fixed-wing pilot, Capt. Niloofar Rahmani has requested asylum in the US, as announced by the Afghan defence ministry. The pilot made the request after she allegedly began receiving death threats from hard-line radicals.

Speaking to the New York Times, Rahmani, 25, said "things are not changing" in Afghanistan. She added, "Things are getting worse and worse. I would love to fly for my country, that is what I have always wanted to do. But I'm scared for my life," she told another paper last week. She has been training at airbases in Arkansas, Texas, and Florida, and was slated to return to her home country last week, but instead she decided to speak out her fears shortly before her departure.

Her comments however, failed to gather support from Afghanistan, with the leadership irked by her instead. Gen. Mohammad Radmanish, an Afghan defence ministry spokesman dismissed her safety concerns saying, "What she said in the US was irresponsible and unexpected. She was meant to be a role model for other young Afghans. She has betrayed her country. It is a shame." He added, "I am sure she lied by saying she was threatened just to win the asylum case. It is baseless that she claimed her life was at risk while serving in the Afghan Air Force. Since Captain Rahmani’s claim is new, we expect her to change her mind and return to her own country and continue serving as a pilot. We request from our American friends and government to reject her asylum case and send her back, because knowing the truth, Captain Rahmani’s life isn’t at risk at all."

She was recognised by the US State Department in 2015, when she was given the Women of Courage award. If the asylum is granted, Rahmani said she wants to continue flying, either as a commercial pilot or for the US Air Force. Heather Higginbottom, US deputy secretary of state for management and resources, praised Rahmani when she received the award: "Niloofar is now the first woman in her nation’s history to earn her flying wings on a fixed-wing plane. Afghans and people all around the world swelled with pride at her accomplishments, but many, including the Taliban and some members of her own extended family, were incensed. Niloofar received death threats and was forced to relocate several times. But she will not be intimidated and she will not be silenced."


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