Afghan mayor receives International Women of Courage Award from US

Ghafari, 26, who is one of Afghanistan’s first and only female players – in charge of the capital city of Wardak province, were among 12 extraordinary women who received the International Women of Courage Award (IWOC).
On her first day in office, a mob of men protested, forcing her to flee: "They thought that was the end of that, but I came back. I came back, and I stood my ground," she said at the event in the State Department on Wednesday.
Ghafari was the only honoree to speak during the ceremony and she used her remarks to make a direct plea to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who was also attending.
"Let me ask for your continued support to ensure that Afghan peace process does not erase the gains that have been made since the dark days of the Taliban regime," she said.
Ghafari thanked the US and Afghan governments for "standing with our women," but she added, "Women of my generation have not forgotten the reign of the Taliban, and we are as always worried for the future."
The International Women of Courage award an annual ceremony started by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in 2007.