Latest / Stuff Mom Never Told You / Feminists Around the World: Zakia Khudadadi

Transcript

Feminists Around the World: Zakia Khudadadi · Stuff Mom Never Told You

• 0:05
  Speaker 1: Hey, this is Sanny and Samantha. Welcome to Stuff One
• 0:07
  Speaker 1: Never Told You production of I Heard You.
• 0:18
  Speaker 2: We have now officially ended our time with all of
• 0:21
  Speaker 2: the fun competitions with both the Summer Olympics of twenty
• 0:24
  Speaker 2: twenty four as well as the Paralympics of twenty twenty four,
• 0:28
  Speaker 2: the Summer edition that is. And though we did talk
• 0:31
  Speaker 2: a little bit about it before. Of course we're going
• 0:33
  Speaker 2: to come back with a wrap up, but today we
• 0:35
  Speaker 2: wanted to celebrate what's been happening with the Paralympics. Uh,
• 0:38
  Speaker 2: with a Paralympics medalist, first perfect minist around the world,
• 0:42
  Speaker 2: because I have you know, that's what we do. Yes,
• 0:45
  Speaker 2: it did just wrap up. It went by really fast,
• 0:49
  Speaker 2: just so y'all know I've had really stressful time and
• 0:52
  Speaker 2: time doesn't exist. But anyway, before we jump into the
• 0:55
  Speaker 2: actual winnings of Paralympics, refugee team member Zakia could have Yes,
• 1:01
  Speaker 2: we want to take a look at her competitive journey.
• 1:04
  Speaker 2: So we featured the refugee team before for the Olympics
• 1:08
  Speaker 2: a while ago, but we wanted to take some time
• 1:10
  Speaker 2: about the refugee team for the Paralympics and the Refugee
• 1:15
  Speaker 2: Paralympic team, also known as RPT, is made up of
• 1:19
  Speaker 2: eight athletes and one guided runner, making it the largest
• 1:23
  Speaker 2: RPT to date, and Kudadadi was the only woman on
• 1:27
  Speaker 2: the Refugee Paralympic team. She actually competed on August the thirtieth,
• 1:31
  Speaker 2: twenty twenty four and became the first from that team
• 1:35
  Speaker 2: to medal at the Paralympics. But her road has been
• 1:39
  Speaker 2: quite a difficult one in getting to this point. So
• 1:42
  Speaker 2: Zakiya born in Afghanistan, has been training throughout her life
• 1:47
  Speaker 2: in taekwondo and she has talked about how her fellow
• 1:51
  Speaker 2: countryman Rahula Nikba was an inspiration for her and Nikba
• 1:55
  Speaker 2: was known as the first Afghania Olympic medalist and yet
• 1:58
  Speaker 2: it was for Taia Gando as well, and with that,
• 2:02
  Speaker 2: Zakia has been making history throughout her life as she's
• 2:05
  Speaker 2: continued to train in para taekwondo. So Zakia trained in
• 2:09
  Speaker 2: areas that were occupied by the Taliban, so she would
• 2:11
  Speaker 2: often just be in her own house or own backyard,
• 2:15
  Speaker 2: but eventually she was able to compete in the twenty
• 2:17
  Speaker 2: sixteen African International Paara Taekwondo Championship in Egypt, where she
• 2:22
  Speaker 2: won gold and soon after. She was able to participate
• 2:25
  Speaker 2: in the twenty twenty Summer Paralympics, but getting to the
• 2:29
  Speaker 2: Paralympics was a feat. It was during her time training
• 2:32
  Speaker 2: in Couple that the Teliban gained power again and she
• 2:35
  Speaker 2: was unable to leave for the competition due to the
• 2:38
  Speaker 2: airports being closed. She and other athletes went into hiding,
• 2:42
  Speaker 2: but made a plea to get to the Paralympics. Here's
• 2:46
  Speaker 2: what ESPN wrote. Speaking in Farsi and translated by Ruters,
• 2:49
  Speaker 2: she said she felt an additional burden to her relatives
• 2:53
  Speaker 2: who did not have enough food to feed their own children.
• 2:55
  Speaker 2: I request from you all that I am an Afghan
• 2:58
  Speaker 2: woman and as a representa of Afghan women, ask for
• 3:01
  Speaker 2: you to help me, she said. My intention is to
• 3:04
  Speaker 2: participate in the Tokyo twenty twenty Paralympics. Please hold my
• 3:08
  Speaker 2: hand and help me. I urge you all, from the
• 3:10
  Speaker 2: women around the globe, institutions for the Protection of Women,
• 3:14
  Speaker 2: from all government organizations to not let the rights of
• 3:17
  Speaker 2: a female citizen of Afghanistan in the Paralympic movement to
• 3:20
  Speaker 2: be taken away so easily. The fact that we ourselves
• 3:23
  Speaker 2: have lifted ourselves from this situation, that we have achieved
• 3:26
  Speaker 2: so much it cannot be taken lightly. I have suffered
• 3:30
  Speaker 2: a lot. I don't want my struggle to be in
• 3:32
  Speaker 2: vain and without any results. Help me.
• 3:35
  Speaker 1: And here's a bit more context from Forbes dot com quote.
• 3:38
  Speaker 1: Since the Taliban takeover in August twenty twenty one, women
• 3:41
  Speaker 1: and girls have been banned from playing sports, are participating
• 3:44
  Speaker 1: in any form of physical activity. Former female athletes, who
• 3:47
  Speaker 1: are well known throughout the country and their communities face
• 3:51
  Speaker 1: persecution and severe punishments. Because of this persecution, they were
• 3:56
  Speaker 1: forced to flee their country are also directly affected. While
• 4:02
  Speaker 1: some of these women and girls were able to flee
• 4:04
  Speaker 1: the country, female athletes still in Afghanistan are living in
• 4:07
  Speaker 1: hiding and in constant fear. Without women able to meaningfully
• 4:12
  Speaker 1: join and engage in all aspects of their lives, including sports,
• 4:16
  Speaker 1: they will remain second class citizens. However, Afghan women have
• 4:20
  Speaker 1: been defying the Taliban and competed at the twenty twenty
• 4:24
  Speaker 1: four Olympics and twenty twenty four Paralympic while flying the
• 4:27
  Speaker 1: flag of the refugee Olympic and Paralympic teams. Among them
• 4:31
  Speaker 1: is Zakiya Kudadadi. Zakia belongs to the Hazara ethnic group
• 4:36
  Speaker 1: in Afghanistan, a numeric minority group in the country which
• 4:40
  Speaker 1: is subjected to discrimination and persecution at the hands of
• 4:43
  Speaker 1: the Taliban and isk After the Taliban takeover in August
• 4:47
  Speaker 1: twenty twenty one, France helped Sakiya to escape Afghanistan and
• 4:51
  Speaker 1: participate in the Tokyo Games. Zakia was at particular risk
• 4:56
  Speaker 1: in Afghanistan as a female athlete and as a member
• 4:59
  Speaker 1: of Hazara community. After taking over power in Afghanistan, the
• 5:03
  Speaker 1: Taliban banned women from participating in sports. Also, as the
• 5:08
  Speaker 1: Taliban was taking over Afghanistan in August twenty twenty one,
• 5:11
  Speaker 1: a tax against Thehissar community increased significantly. Bizarre places of worship,
• 5:16
  Speaker 1: schools and other predominantly Haissar places were being attacked again
• 5:20
  Speaker 1: and again, sending waves of fear across the communities.
• 5:23
  Speaker 2: Right, and obviously there's a lot going on. There's been
• 5:26
  Speaker 2: some new articles coming out about Afghanistan and the women
• 5:29
  Speaker 2: there and some of the worst restrictions coming up again
• 5:33
  Speaker 2: after years of trying to fight for their right. So
• 5:36
  Speaker 2: we'll be addressing that, I'm sure upcoming. But going on
• 5:40
  Speaker 2: with Zakiya and her plea was heard. She was airlifted
• 5:43
  Speaker 2: from Kabul to Paris by the Australian Air Force with
• 5:47
  Speaker 2: fellow athlete Hassan Rasuli and was able to compete at
• 5:50
  Speaker 2: the twenty twenty Tokyo Paralympics. After arriving in Paris, Thekiya
• 5:54
  Speaker 2: was able to start training there with coach Habi Niare
• 5:58
  Speaker 2: and she told Paralymics dot Org coach Hubby is really, really,
• 6:02
  Speaker 2: really kind, and she pushes me every day. She tells me, Zakia,
• 6:05
  Speaker 2: you are a champion. Every day. I feel that positive energy.
• 6:09
  Speaker 2: I'm happy together, she said, she is amazing and a
• 6:12
  Speaker 2: role model. I'm happy because I'm a refugee. I'm not French.
• 6:15
  Speaker 2: She is French and her heart is very big. Refugee
• 6:18
  Speaker 2: or French. She's been so good to me. I continue
• 6:20
  Speaker 2: pay attakwondo because I love the sport and I win
• 6:23
  Speaker 2: for the women of Afghanistan and for the refugee people.
• 6:26
  Speaker 1: And after competing in twenty twenty one, Zakiya has been
• 6:29
  Speaker 1: training in Rotterdam. Here's some more from Paralympics dot Com
• 6:33
  Speaker 1: about her time there. Quote she admits it's not easy
• 6:37
  Speaker 1: being a refugee and thinking about leaving her home country
• 6:40
  Speaker 1: still breaks her heart. I left my country, my home,
• 6:43
  Speaker 1: my club, my everything. It was a difficult day for
• 6:46
  Speaker 1: me and to speak about Tokyo, I cry because my
• 6:49
  Speaker 1: heart is in pain. But I didn't stop after Tokyo.
• 6:52
  Speaker 1: I am strong for everything, for sport, for women of Afghanistan,
• 6:57
  Speaker 1: for refugee people. While she associates her time I'm at
• 7:00
  Speaker 1: Tokyo twenty twenty with tears and sadness, she said that
• 7:03
  Speaker 1: roder Dam is a place that made her happy. Now
• 7:06
  Speaker 1: she wants to find more happiness in Paris, the host
• 7:09
  Speaker 1: of next year's Paralympic Games, as she competes there at
• 7:12
  Speaker 1: the Grand Prix in September. Now, I've really progressed in
• 7:16
  Speaker 1: the French language and I'm in contact with more people.
• 7:19
  Speaker 1: The French team is a good team and I'm happy,
• 7:21
  Speaker 1: she said. I'm ready. I'm ready for my competitions.
• 7:25
  Speaker 2: And yeah, she's definitely shown that she was ready. With
• 7:29
  Speaker 2: being the first person from the RPD to win a
• 7:31
  Speaker 2: medal at the Paralympics, Zakia has made sure to put
• 7:35
  Speaker 2: their team on the map on the podium my guests.
• 7:39
  Speaker 2: Zakiya competed and won the bronze medal in August, beating
• 7:42
  Speaker 2: Turkey's athlete. NBC News wrote this about her win. When
• 7:46
  Speaker 2: the final buzzer sounded at the Grand Palais in central Paris,
• 7:49
  Speaker 2: Kuda Dotti erupted in joy, throwing her helmet and mouthpiece
• 7:52
  Speaker 2: into the air. It was a surreal moment. My heart
• 7:55
  Speaker 2: started racing when I realized I've won the bronze, Kuda
• 7:58
  Speaker 2: Dotti said, her voice shaking with him. I went through
• 8:01
  Speaker 2: so much to get here. This medal is for all
• 8:03
  Speaker 2: the women of Afghanistan and all the refugees of the world.
• 8:06
  Speaker 2: I hope that one day there'll be peace in my country.
• 8:09
  Speaker 1: And they continue. The atmosphere in the Grand Palais was
• 8:13
  Speaker 1: electric as the French crowd cheered her on as if
• 8:16
  Speaker 1: she were one of their own. Since fleeing Afghanistan, Kuda
• 8:19
  Speaker 1: Dottie has been trained at INCEPT, France's National Institute in
• 8:23
  Speaker 1: Sport in Paris, with her French coach, Habi Niari, a
• 8:27
  Speaker 1: former Taekwondo world champion. Zakia has been magical. I don't
• 8:32
  Speaker 1: know how else to put it, Niari said, beaming with pride.
• 8:35
  Speaker 1: The training process has been challenging. She faced a lot
• 8:38
  Speaker 1: of injuries and she had to learn a lot in
• 8:40
  Speaker 1: a couple of years, but she never lost sight of
• 8:43
  Speaker 1: her goal for the refugee Paralympic team. It's super special,
• 8:46
  Speaker 1: it's super important, Parson said. Sakia just showed to the
• 8:50
  Speaker 1: world how good she is. It's an incredible journey. It's
• 8:54
  Speaker 1: something that we should all learn about.
• 8:56
  Speaker 2: Yes, and obviously congratulations to her and all of the
• 8:59
  Speaker 2: winner and participants of the Paralympics. I'm sure we will
• 9:03
  Speaker 2: be hearing more about her and the RBT and we'll
• 9:06
  Speaker 2: be back again to talk about the Paralympics soon. Yes.
• 9:11
  Speaker 1: Yes, but as always, listeners, if you have any thoughts
• 9:16
  Speaker 1: about who we should highlight what we should highlight, please
• 9:21
  Speaker 1: please please let us know. You can email us at Stuffmedia,
• 9:25
  Speaker 1: mom Stuff at iHeartMedia dot com. You can find us
• 9:27
  Speaker 1: on Twitter at mom Stuff Podcast, or on Instagram and
• 9:29
  Speaker 1: TikTok at Stuff I've Never Told You. We're also on
• 9:32
  Speaker 1: Tea Public. We have a YouTube page as well, and
• 9:35
  Speaker 1: a book you can get wherever you get your books.
• 9:37
  Speaker 1: Thanks as always to our super producer Christina, executive producer Maya,
• 9:40
  Speaker 1: and our cotruder Joey. Thank you and thanks to you
• 9:43
  Speaker 1: for listening Stuff I'll Never Told You. The production of
• 9:45
  Speaker 1: iyheart Radio. For more podcasts from my heart Radio, you
• 9:47
  Speaker 1: can check out the heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or
• 9:49
  Speaker 1: wherever you listen to your favorite shows.