Marzia, champion of women's rights

Marzia Babakarkhail

A CHAMPION of women's rights has been nominated for a Pride in Oldham Award.

Marzia Babakarkhail, a former judge from Afghanistan, was recently named Woman of the Year at the 2017 Fusion Awards.

The award was presented to someone who has made a lasting and impressive contribution to their community or excelled in their chosen career or has battled against the odds.

The judges felt Marzia's background and story was inspiring. Marzia (51) said: "This is a really big thing for me. I feel really emotional. I do appreciate every single support I have received in Oldham, especially from women in Oldham.

"My goal is to bring everybody together and encourage asylum seekers and refugees to build a successful life and to be independent.

"The most important thing is we need to learn English. We cannot achieve without the language in the country we live.

"I believe passionately in giving back and making difference."

Before coming to this country in 2008 at the age of 43, Marzia was a judge in Afghanistan and passionate about women's rights.

She was targeted by the Taliban for setting up a foundation for educating girls.

They tried to kill her in a high-speed hit-and-run incident as she visited her sick mother in hospital and she spent six months in hospital recovering.

As well as studying English in college, she works part-time as a case worker for Labour Parliamentary candidate Debbie Abrahams.

Marzia went on to say: "I can't compare myself to the people who came as refugees at the age of 16 or 21 ­- 43 is a bad age, it's more difficult to learn new things. When you reach 40 your body changes, your mind changes, your brain changes. I had to start all over again at the age of 43."