Taliban, Family Members Oppose Her Career As A Military Pilot

The first woman to become a pilot in fixed-wing military aircraft in Afghanistan has had to give up that dream in the face of death threats and family opposition.

Niloofar Rahmani became the country's first female fixed-wing military pilot at the age of 21 two years ago. He said she was living out her father's dream, as wanted to be a role model for other women who wanted careers outside the home.

But now, Capt. Rahmani is facing death threats from the Taliban as well as members of her extended family, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal. Her family of eight, including her parents and siblings, have gone into hiding for fear of their lives. Their once-comfortable middle-class lives have been shattered.

Capt. Rahmani flies a Cessna 208, according to the report. Her job is to ferry soldiers to the battlefield, and sometimes return their remains to their families. She became an aircraft commander a year ago. Her accomplishments were publicized by the U.S.-led coalition, and she became recognizable as photos of the young woman in a flight suit and headscarf went viral.

The death threats began in 2013 with threatening phone calls in a language she did not understand, but with a clear message: Quit or die.

Later a letter, dated August 3, 2013, arrived that stated “Islam has instructed women not to work with the Americans or British. If you carry on doing your job, you will be responsible for your destruction and that of your family.”

That threat came from the Taliban, but Capt. Rahmani said that she has also received threats from family members who say she has "shamed" the family through her work, and the only way to restore the family honor is for her to punished. After thwarted break-in attempt at the family's home in Kabul, the house was sold and the family has moved every few months since, according to the report.

The family fled to India for a time, and when she returned, the Afghan military asked her to resign, saying she had abandoned her duty, but pressure from the U.S.-led coalition preserved her job.

Other family members have been attacked, her father lost his job last fall, and her older sister was shunned by her husband's family and eventually divorced. Her sister hasn't seen her 4-year-old son in over a year.

The Afghan military is reluctant to offer support, saying Capt. Rahmani joined voluntarily and knew what she was getting into. She hadn't flown since early last month because of the security risks.

The U.S. Military has offered temporary relocation to the U.S. and training in C-130 aircraft, an opportunity she would like to explore. She is also interested in enrolling in flight school outside Afghanistan and pursuing a commercial pilot license, but can't afford the expense.

Capt. Rahmani told the Wall Street Journal that the really wanted to be in the military, and really wanted to fly. She is one of only three female military pilots in Afghanistan. But "I can't continue like this," she said.

(Image from Afghan Air Force via Facebook)

FMI: https://www.facebook.com/AfghanAirForce