Afghan women's national cycling team

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Members of the national cycling team during training

The Afghan Women's National Cycling Team was a group of young women in Afghanistan who, despite numerous adversities, cycled in their home country. Their goal was to qualify for the Olympic Games . In 2016 the team was proposed for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The team consisted of around 40 drivers. She was trained by Abdul Sadiq Sadiqi, who was also president of the Afghan Cycling Federation. In 2013, the team was the first Afghan women's team to take part in the Asian cycling championships. There was an Afghan women's national cycling team as early as 1986, but it ceased to exist under the Taliban . In 2011, Abdul Sediq founded a new team, including his daughter Marjan Sadiqi.

Many Afghans dislike the fact that women in skimpy sportswear show themselves on the streets with racing bikes, even if they wear the hijab under their helmets. The team members are often verbally abused and pelted with stones and rubbish. In 2013, a driver was deliberately hit and injured. That is why the team usually completes their training early in the morning or late in the evening on the outskirts of the capital Kabul .

In 2016 the team was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. This was preceded by a call from the Italian television broadcaster Rai 2 to vote for a petition to nominate the bicycle for the Nobel Peace Prize. It is an "instrument of peace" and the "most democratic means of transport of mankind". The bicycle also does not trigger wars, which are often fought over oil , and it is environmentally friendly. Based on this action, 118 Italian parliamentarians nominated the Afghan women's national cycling team for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Afghan women's cycling program was supported by the non-profit organization Mountain2Mountain run by the US activist Shannon Galpin , who also wrote a book about the team. The bike brand Liv from Giant , which specializes in bikes for women, supported the team with bikes and other equipment. The nomination for the Nobel Prize, according to Galpin, recognized the fearlessness and courage of these women to reclaim the streets and their right to bicycles.

In 2013 a short film was made about the team. The longer documentary Afghan cycles was released in 2018.

In 2017, however, the project failed for the time being. There were allegations of corruption and a dispute between Galpin and Sadiki, and some girls applied for asylum while the team was traveling. In the meantime, women's departments have been set up in cycling clubs independently of each other.

literature

  • Shannon Galpin: Mountain to Mountain: a Journey of Adventure and Activism for the Women of Afghanistan . St Martin's Press, 2015, ISBN 978-1-250-04664-2 (English).

Web links

References and comments

  1. ↑ The 2016 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos , s. [1] .
  2. ^ Women's cycling in Afghanistan: headscarf and jersey. In: Spiegel Online photo gallery (1). March 13, 2015, accessed October 8, 2016 .
  3. ↑ a b c Afghan women's cycling team nominated for Nobel Peace Prize. In: Velo News.com. February 22, 2016, accessed October 8, 2016 .
  4. ↑ a b Afghanistan: The female cyclists of Kabul. In: zeit.de . March 17, 2015, accessed October 8, 2016 .
  5. ^ Women's cycling in Afghanistan: headscarf and jersey. In: Spiegel Online photo gallery (5). March 13, 2015, accessed October 8, 2016 .
  6. ^ Women's cycling in Afghanistan: headscarf and jersey. In: Spiegel Online photo gallery (2). March 13, 2015, accessed October 8, 2016 .
  7. ^ Bicycle 'should win Nobel Peace Prize'. In: - BBC News. June 23, 2016, accessed October 8, 2016 .
  8. ↑ Liv Partners with Afghan Cycles To Tell Story of Women Riders in Afghanistan. In: Giant Bicycles. August 27, 2014, accessed October 8, 2016 .
  9. ↑ Afghan Cycles. In: siff.net. Retrieved October 26, 2019 .
  10. ↑ The female cyclists of Kabul - How dreams burst in Afghanistan. In: rnz.de. April 1, 2017, accessed October 26, 2019 .
  11. ↑ Selene Yeater: 'Afghan Cycles' Premieres After 5 Years of Controversy, Corruption, and Violence. May 8, 2018, accessed October 26, 2019 .