✍️ By: Hamia Naderi
Dr Massouda Jalal, born on January 5, 1962 (15 Jadi 1340) in Kapisa, Afghanistan, is a prominent Afghan politician and medical doctor. She served as Minister of Women’s Affairs from 2004 to 2006 during Hamid Karzai’s presidency and is known for being the only woman to run in Afghanistan’s 2004 presidential election.
She first rose to national prominence at the 2002 Loya Jirga (Grand Assembly), where she ran for the head of the transitional government, securing second place with 171 out of 1,575 votes — a historic achievement for a woman in Afghan politics.
Early Life and Education
One of seven siblings, Jalal moved to Kabul for school and later studied medicine at Kabul University. She became a faculty member there until the Taliban dismissed her. During the Taliban era, she worked as a psychiatrist and pediatrician in various hospitals and also served with the World Food Programme. She is married to a law professor and has three children.
Political Career
After the Taliban’s fall in 2001, Jalal emerged as a leading voice for Afghan women. She represented Kabul in the 2002 Loya Jirga, where she came second to Karzai. She was later appointed Minister of Women’s Affairs (2004–2006), but often criticized the Karzai government and maintained her stance as an independent politician, free from ties to warlords or former regimes.
Elections
- 2004 Presidential Election: Jalal ran as the only female candidate, earning about 91,415 votes (1.1%), finishing sixth among 17 candidates. Unlike others, she did not contest the results.
- 2009 Presidential Election: Initially listed as a potential candidate, she eventually declined to run.
- 2018 Parliamentary Election: She ran for a seat in parliament representing Kabul.
- 2019 Presidential Election: She joined Rahmatullah Nabil’s Security and Justice team alongside Murad Ali Murad.
