Kubra Noorzai (1932–1986) was an

Afghan Afghan or Afgan may refer to: Related to Afghanistan *Afghans, historically refers to the Pashtun people. It is both an ethnicity and nationality. Ethnicity wise, it refers to the Pashtuns. In modern terms, it means both the citizens of Afghanist ...

politician. She was the first woman to become a government minister in the country, serving as Minister of Public Health between 1965 and 1969.

Biography

Noorzai was born in Kabul, one of nine children. She was educated at the Lycée Malalaï, before graduating from the College of Science at

Kabul University Kabul University (KU; ) is one of the major and oldest institutions of higher education in Afghanistan. It is in the 3rd District of the capital Kabul near the Ministry of Higher Education. It was founded in 1931 by King Mohammed Nadir Shah, wh ...

.Lucie Street (1967) ''The Tent Pegs of Heaven: A Journey Through Afghanistan'', p168 Abarzanan Noorzai subsequently returned to Lycée Malalaï, becoming its headteacher and later headed the Women's Faculty at Kabul University. In 1958 she moved to France, where she studied at the

University of Paris The University of Paris (), known Metonymy, metonymically as the Sorbonne (), was the leading university in Paris, France, from 1150 to 1970, except for 1793–1806 during the French Revolution. Emerging around 1150 as a corporation associated wit ...

for a year. She worked as a school inspector for girls schools, and served as director of the Feminine Charitable Institute in

Kabul Kabul is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. Located in the eastern half of the country, it is also a municipality, forming part of the Kabul Province. The city is divided for administration into #Districts, 22 municipal districts. A ...

. She also became Dean of the College of Home Economics. One of the leading feminists in Afghanistan, Noorzai was one of the first women to stop wearing a veil in public, after Queen Humaira Begum had set the example by appearing without hers in 1959.Tamim Ansary (2012
Games without Rules: The Often-Interrupted History of Afghanistan
/ref> She was an Afghan delegate at UNESCO and the International Women's Congress meeting in

Dublin Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...

. In 1964 King

Mohammed Zahir Shah Mohammad Zāhir Shāh (15 October 1914 – 23 July 2007) was the last King of Afghanistan, reigning from 8 November 1933 until he was deposed on 17 July 1973. Ruling for 40 years, Zahir Shah was the longest-serving ruler of Afghanistan since t ...

appointed her to an advisory committee that reviewed the draft 1964 constitution, which granted women the right to vote and stand for election. Following the August–September 1965 elections, she was appointed Minister of Public Health by Prime Minister Mohammad Hashim Maiwandwal on 1 December 1965, becoming the first women minister in Afghanistan. She remained in office until 1969. As director of the Women's Institute, she was elected to the

Loya Jirga A jirga (, ''jərga'') is an assembly of leaders that makes decisions by consensus according to Pashtunwali, the Pashtun social code. It is conducted in order to settle disputes among the Pashtuns, but also by members of other ethnic groups who ...

1977 Events January * January 8 – 1977 Moscow bombings, Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group. * January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (no ...

during the rule of President

Mohammed Daoud Khan Mohammad Daoud Khan (Dari/) also romanized as Daud Khan or Dawood Khan; 18July 190928April 1978) was an Afghan head of state, military officer and politician who served as prime minister of Afghanistan from 1953 to 1963 and, as leader of the 19 ...

.Suad Joseph & Afsāna Naǧmābādī (2003) ''Encyclopedia of Women and Islamic Cultures: Family, Law and Politics''] p788 Never married, she died at her home in the Kārte Seh neighbourhood of Kabul in 1986.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Noorzai, Kobra 1932 births Politicians from Kabul Kabul University alumni University of Paris alumni Afghan feminists 20th-century Afghan educators Afghan women educators 1986 deaths Women government ministers of Afghanistan Health ministers of Afghanistan Public health ministers 20th-century Afghan women politicians 20th-century Afghan politicians