Soraya Tarzi Queen Consort of Afghanistan 1919-1929 Date of Birth: 24.11.1899 Country: Afghanistan

1. Queen Soraya Tarzi: A Revolutionary Royal for Women's Rights
2. Courage and Support in War and Diplomacy
3. Champion of Women's Education and Empowerment
4. Visit to Europe and the USSR
5. Removing the Veil and Its Consequences
6. Life in Exile and Legacy

Queen Soraya Tarzi: A Revolutionary Royal for Women's Rights

Soraya Tarzi, born in Damascus in 1899, was the Queen consort to King Amanullah Khan from 1919 to 1929. As the daughter of prominent Afghan writer and activist Mahmud Beik Tarzi and granddaughter of renowned Pashtun Sardar and poet Ghulam Muhammad Tarzi, she received an exceptional education at home.

Growing up, Soraya witnessed her parents' progressive views on women's rights, which greatly influenced her own political beliefs. In 1902, Amir Habibullah Khan allowed the Tarzi family to return to Afghanistan, where they forged close ties with the royal court. At age 14, Soraya married Prince Amanullah, the future King of Afghanistan, breaking the centuries-old tradition of Afghan rulers having multiple wives.

Courage and Support in War and Diplomacy

After Amanullah Khan ascended to the throne in 1919, Soraya played a pivotal role in Afghan politics and social activism. During the Afghan War of Independence, she visited wounded soldiers, bestowed gifts, and accompanied her husband to unrest-stricken provinces.

Queen Soraya became the first consort of a Muslim monarch to accompany her husband in official receptions. She participated in hunts, traveled with him domestically and abroad, and even attended military parades and cabinet meetings. King Amanullah famously remarked, "I am your King, but I am only the Minister of [your] Education, while the Queen is my sovereign."

Champion of Women's Education and Empowerment

As a passionate feminist like her mother, Soraya dedicated her reign to uplifting the status of Afghan women. At a time when women had limited rights, she urged them to embrace education and participate actively in society.

In 1921, Soraya co-founded the Society for the Protection of Women (Anjuman-i-Himiyaya-i-Nhiswan) with her mother and the King's sister, Princess Kubbra. The society established and ran girls' schools and published a women's magazine, "Ershad-un-Niswan."

Visit to Europe and the USSR

In 1927, King Amanullah and Queen Soraya embarked on a six-month tour of Europe and Asia, including the USSR. Defying traditional norms, Soraya appeared in public without a veil and wore European attire. She eagerly observed women's institutions to gather insights for promoting women's emancipation in Afghanistan.

Removing the Veil and Its Consequences

Upon their return, King Amanullah publicly removed Queen Soraya's veil, encouraging other women to do the same. However, this bold move encountered resistance from conservative members of the State Council, who exploited the issue as anti-government propaganda.

Life in Exile and Legacy

In 1929, the King's reign ended, and Soraya accompanied him into exile. Their journey to Europe was met with great support in India, where she gave birth to a daughter named India in honor of the country's future independence. The Tarzi family resided in Italy, where Soraya occasionally visited her siblings in Istanbul.

Queen Soraya Tarzi passed away in 1968 in Rome. Her remains were returned to Afghanistan and interred in the family mausoleum in Jalalabad, alongside her husband, who had passed away in 1960.

Soraya Tarzi's unwavering advocacy for women's education and empowerment made her an extraordinary figure in Afghan history. She remains an inspiration for women's rights activists and a symbol of the transformative power of female leadership.