The presence of Australian troops is only beneficial for the bunch of warlords and criminals ruling Afghanistan. The Afghan people face dire conditions as the US and their allies have massacred innocent women, children and men – and are continuing so. Since 2001, tens of thousands civilians have been killed by the blind bombardments of the US and their allies, which includes Australia as well. […] Therefore, the Australian people need to demand that their government stop supporting such a treacherous regime and instead support the democratic forces of Afghanistan who are struggling under extreme conditions to bring peace, independence, democracy, freedom, and women’s rights. Furthermore, they should ask the Australian government to withdraw its troops because their presence is only making the situation worse.

That’s Malalai Joya in Overland 204, the edition that will be launched at the Melbourne Writers Festival.

Joya is, quite simply, an extraordinary woman: an Afghan activist who campaigned for women’s rights against the Taliban and now, despite death threats and intimidation, speaks out against the US/NATO occupation.

She was a parliamentarian representative in Afghanistan: the clip below shows the courage that she displayed in that role.

In the next clip, she explains why the US and its allies must leave Afghanistan now.

With the ten-year anniversary of the Afghan invasion looming, Overland’s very pleased to be presenting Malalai Joya in Melbourne. She’s speaking at two Overland events: a Big Ideas lecture on the future of the region, and a forum on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq (alongside John Martinkus, whose remarkable account of being kidnapped by Iraqi insurgents also features in Overland 204).

You can also see Malalai Joya in Sydney and elsewhere around Australia – and you can take out a subscription to Overland here at the website.