Soraya Tarzi
Who was Soraya Tarzi?
Queen of Afghanistan and progressive advocate for women's rights who championed education and modernization during her husband King Amanullah Khan's reign from 1919-1929.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Soraya Tarzi (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Soraya Tarzi (1899-1968) was Queen of Afghanistan from 1919 to 1929, married to King Amanullah Khan. Born in Damascus to a notable Afghan family, she was a key figure in her time for advocating women's rights and social change in Afghanistan. Marrying Amanullah Khan in 1913 at the age of fourteen, she helped drive significant changes in Afghan society.
As Queen, Soraya Tarzi was deeply involved in her husband's modernization efforts. She strongly supported women's education, helped set up schools for girls, and pushed for ending the wearing of veils. Her public appearances without traditional coverings surprised conservative groups but showed her dedication to women's rights. She launched the first women's magazine in Afghanistan and encouraged women to be active in public life, education, and careers.
Soraya Tarzi's impact wasn't limited to Afghanistan. She traveled with King Amanullah on diplomatic trips to Europe and elsewhere, putting forward Afghanistan as a forward-thinking nation. Her participation in official events and strong support for women's rights earned her recognition from foreign governments and international organizations. The British government later awarded her the Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire.
The reforms promoted by Soraya Tarzi and her husband eventually met significant resistance from conservative religious and tribal groups. By 1929, the opposition was so strong that King Amanullah stepped down to avoid a civil war. The couple went into exile, first in India and later in Europe. Soraya Tarzi spent her later years in exile, mainly in Rome, where she died in 1968, having seen many of the reforms she championed overturned.
Before Fame
Born into the influential Tarzi family in Damascus, Soraya was the daughter of Mahmud Tarzi, a prominent Afghan intellectual and diplomat who was Afghanistan's foreign minister. Her father was a strong supporter of modernization and constitutional government, exposing Soraya early on to progressive political ideas and international perspectives.
Growing up in a politically active household shaped her worldview and prepared her to advocate for reform. The Tarzi family's ties to both traditional Afghan culture and modern European thought gave Soraya a unique background to connect these worlds when she became queen at twenty.
Key Achievements
- Established Afghanistan's first women's magazine and promoted female literacy
- Founded multiple schools for girls and advocated for co-educational institutions
- Successfully campaigned for the abolition of mandatory veiling in Afghanistan
- Represented Afghanistan internationally as an advocate for women's rights and modernization
- Received the Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
Did You Know?
- 01.She founded Afghanistan's first women's magazine, 'Ershad-i Niswan' (Guidance for Women), in 1921
- 02.Soraya Tarzi was fluent in multiple languages including Pashto, Dari, Arabic, French, and English
- 03.She publicly removed her veil during a 1928 independence celebration, causing significant controversy
- 04.Her wedding to Amanullah Khan was the first royal Afghan wedding where the bride was not secluded during ceremonies
- 05.She established the first girls' school in Kabul that offered education equivalent to boys' schools
Family & Personal Life
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire | — | — |