Rula Ghani | |
|---|---|
| رولا غنى | |
.jpg) Ghani in 2014 | |
| First Lady of Afghanistan | |
| In role 29 September 2014 – 15 August 2021 | |
| President | Ashraf Ghani |
| Preceded by | Zeenat Karzai |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rula F. Saadah 1948 (age 75–76) Lebanon |
| Citizenship |
Lebanon Afghanistan United States |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, including Mariam |
| Alma mater |
Sciences Po University, Paris American University of Beirut Columbia University |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nickname(s) | بی بی گُل Bibi Gul |
Rula F. Saadah Ghani [1] [2] (Afghan name: Bibi Gul; [3] born 1948) is a former first lady of Afghanistan and wife of former president of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani. [4]
In 2015, Rula Ghani was named to the Time 100, a list of the world's most influential people, by Time magazine. [5]
Personal life
Rula Ghani was born Rula Saade or Roula Saadé [6] and raised in Lebanon, in a Lebanese Maronite Christian family. She received a diploma from Sciences Po, France, in 1969. [7] [8] [9] She completed a master's degree in Political Studies from the American University of Beirut in 1974, where she had met her future husband, Ashraf Ghani. [10]
The couple married in 1975 and have two children: a daughter, Mariam Ghani, a Brooklyn-based visual artist, [11] and a son, Tariq. Rula Ghani earned another master's degree in journalism from Columbia University in New York City in 1983. She returned to Afghanistan in 2003. [12]
Ghani holds citizenship in Afghanistan, Lebanon, and the United States. [3] [13] She reportedly speaks Arabic, English, French, Pashto and Dari. [14]
Since 2014
At his presidential inauguration in 2014 Ghani publicly thanked his wife, acknowledging her with an Afghan name, Bibi Gul. [10] "I want to thank my partner, Bibi Gul, for supporting me and Afghanistan," said President Ghani, looking emotional. "She has always supported Afghan women and I hope she continues to do so." [15] [16] Historian Ali A Olomi argued in 2017 that, following the precedent of Afghanistan's Queen Soraya, Rula Ghani could help bring real change for women's rights in the country. [17]
As First Lady, Ghani was an advocate for women's rights. [18]
On 15 August 2021, Ghani fled from Afghanistan with her husband, children, and two close aides as the Taliban captured Kabul; the Arg, the Afghan presidential palace, was captured a few hours later by the Taliban. [19] [20] On 18 August 2021, the government of the United Arab Emirates said that the Ghani family were in their country. [21]
See also
References
- ^ "AUB Couples". 150.aub.edu.lb. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ Rula, Saadah (26 November 1974). The shaping of British policy in Iraq, 1914-1921 (Thesis). Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Rula Ghani, the woman making waves as Afghanistan's new first lady". The Guardian. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
- ^ "Al Arabiya: Afghan first lady in shadow of 1920s queen?". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ Hosseini, Khaled (16 April 2015). "Time 100 Leaders: Rula Ghani". Time. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ "Alumna Rula Ghani, Afghanistan's First lady | Sciences Po Students". www.sciencespo.fr. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ Rasmussen, Sune Engel (6 November 2014). "Rula Ghani, the woman making waves as Afghanistan's new first lady". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 November 2017 – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ Burger, John (13 January 2016). "Meet Rula Ghani, Afghanistan's Christian First Lady". Aleteia. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ "Afghanistan First Lady Rula Ghani Moves into the Limelight". BBC. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ a b Alexander, Harriet (29 September 2014). "Ashraf Ghani inaugurated: Is Afghanistan ready for a high-profile first lady?". Retrieved 26 November 2017 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ Walsh, Declan; Nordland, Rod (14 October 2014). "Jolting Some, Afghan Leader Brings Wife Into the Picture". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ O'Donnell, Lynne (27 May 2015). "AP Interview: Afghanistan's first lady breaks taboos but insists she 'doesn't do politics'". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
- ^ "Afghanistan's next first lady, a Christian Lebanese-American?". english.alarabiya.net. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ "A Conversation with Afghanistan First Lady Rula Ghani". www.csis.org. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ^ "WSJ". Wall Street Journal. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2017 – via online.wsj.com.
- ^ "Foreign Policy: The real first ladies of Afghanistan". Archived from the original on 16 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ "Afghanistan's New President Thinks His Wife Can Play a Decisive Role in the Country's Future Despite Her Gender. Why He's Right". historynewsnetwork.org. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ Magazine, BRIGHT (20 August 2018). "Rula Ghani, A New Kind Of First Lady, Believes Afghanistan Deserves New Stories". Medium.
- ^ "President Ashraf Ghani flees Afghanistan as Taliban enters Kabul". South China Morning Post. Reuters. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "Afghan government collapses as Ghani flees the country". Seattle Times. New York Times. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "Taliban violently disperse rare protest, killing 1 person". Associated Press. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- 1948 births
- Afghan people of Arab descent
- Afghan Christians
- Afghan expatriates in the United Arab Emirates
- Afghan people of Lebanese descent
- American University of Beirut alumni
- American emigrants to Afghanistan
- First ladies of Afghanistan
- Lebanese Maronites
- Lebanese emigrants to the United States
- Living people
- Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism alumni
Rula Ghani | |
|---|---|
| رولا غنى | |
|
Ghani in 2014 | |
| First Lady of Afghanistan | |
| In role 29 September 2014 – 15 August 2021 | |
| President | Ashraf Ghani |
| Preceded by | Zeenat Karzai |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rula F. Saadah 1948 (age 75–76) Lebanon |
| Citizenship |
Lebanon Afghanistan United States |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2, including Mariam |
| Alma mater |
Sciences Po University, Paris American University of Beirut Columbia University |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Nickname(s) | بی بی گُل Bibi Gul |
Rula F. Saadah Ghani [1] [2] (Afghan name: Bibi Gul; [3] born 1948) is a former first lady of Afghanistan and wife of former president of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani. [4]
In 2015, Rula Ghani was named to the Time 100, a list of the world's most influential people, by Time magazine. [5]
Personal life
Rula Ghani was born Rula Saade or Roula Saadé [6] and raised in Lebanon, in a Lebanese Maronite Christian family. She received a diploma from Sciences Po, France, in 1969. [7] [8] [9] She completed a master's degree in Political Studies from the American University of Beirut in 1974, where she had met her future husband, Ashraf Ghani. [10]
The couple married in 1975 and have two children: a daughter, Mariam Ghani, a Brooklyn-based visual artist, [11] and a son, Tariq. Rula Ghani earned another master's degree in journalism from Columbia University in New York City in 1983. She returned to Afghanistan in 2003. [12]
Ghani holds citizenship in Afghanistan, Lebanon, and the United States. [3] [13] She reportedly speaks Arabic, English, French, Pashto and Dari. [14]
Since 2014
At his presidential inauguration in 2014 Ghani publicly thanked his wife, acknowledging her with an Afghan name, Bibi Gul. [10] "I want to thank my partner, Bibi Gul, for supporting me and Afghanistan," said President Ghani, looking emotional. "She has always supported Afghan women and I hope she continues to do so." [15] [16] Historian Ali A Olomi argued in 2017 that, following the precedent of Afghanistan's Queen Soraya, Rula Ghani could help bring real change for women's rights in the country. [17]
As First Lady, Ghani was an advocate for women's rights. [18]
On 15 August 2021, Ghani fled from Afghanistan with her husband, children, and two close aides as the Taliban captured Kabul; the Arg, the Afghan presidential palace, was captured a few hours later by the Taliban. [19] [20] On 18 August 2021, the government of the United Arab Emirates said that the Ghani family were in their country. [21]
See also
References
- ^ "AUB Couples". 150.aub.edu.lb. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ Rula, Saadah (26 November 1974). The shaping of British policy in Iraq, 1914-1921 (Thesis). Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Rula Ghani, the woman making waves as Afghanistan's new first lady". The Guardian. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
- ^ "Al Arabiya: Afghan first lady in shadow of 1920s queen?". Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ Hosseini, Khaled (16 April 2015). "Time 100 Leaders: Rula Ghani". Time. Retrieved 26 April 2015.
- ^ "Alumna Rula Ghani, Afghanistan's First lady | Sciences Po Students". www.sciencespo.fr. 23 October 2017. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
- ^ Rasmussen, Sune Engel (6 November 2014). "Rula Ghani, the woman making waves as Afghanistan's new first lady". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 November 2017 – via www.theguardian.com.
- ^ Burger, John (13 January 2016). "Meet Rula Ghani, Afghanistan's Christian First Lady". Aleteia. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ "Afghanistan First Lady Rula Ghani Moves into the Limelight". BBC. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ a b Alexander, Harriet (29 September 2014). "Ashraf Ghani inaugurated: Is Afghanistan ready for a high-profile first lady?". Retrieved 26 November 2017 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ Walsh, Declan; Nordland, Rod (14 October 2014). "Jolting Some, Afghan Leader Brings Wife Into the Picture". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ O'Donnell, Lynne (27 May 2015). "AP Interview: Afghanistan's first lady breaks taboos but insists she 'doesn't do politics'". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
- ^ "Afghanistan's next first lady, a Christian Lebanese-American?". english.alarabiya.net. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ "A Conversation with Afghanistan First Lady Rula Ghani". www.csis.org. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
- ^ "WSJ". Wall Street Journal. 29 September 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2017 – via online.wsj.com.
- ^ "Foreign Policy: The real first ladies of Afghanistan". Archived from the original on 16 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ "Afghanistan's New President Thinks His Wife Can Play a Decisive Role in the Country's Future Despite Her Gender. Why He's Right". historynewsnetwork.org. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
- ^ Magazine, BRIGHT (20 August 2018). "Rula Ghani, A New Kind Of First Lady, Believes Afghanistan Deserves New Stories". Medium.
- ^ "President Ashraf Ghani flees Afghanistan as Taliban enters Kabul". South China Morning Post. Reuters. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "Afghan government collapses as Ghani flees the country". Seattle Times. New York Times. 15 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
- ^ "Taliban violently disperse rare protest, killing 1 person". Associated Press. 18 August 2021. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
- 1948 births
- Afghan people of Arab descent
- Afghan Christians
- Afghan expatriates in the United Arab Emirates
- Afghan people of Lebanese descent
- American University of Beirut alumni
- American emigrants to Afghanistan
- First ladies of Afghanistan
- Lebanese Maronites
- Lebanese emigrants to the United States
- Living people
- Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism alumni