NEWS RELEASES
September 26, 2006 (3:00 p.m. EDT)
No. 110
CANADA CONDEMNS KILLING OF KANDAHAR DIRECTOR OF
WOMEN’S AFFAIRS
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency, today issued the following statement condemning the
shooting death on Monday of Safia Amajan, Director of Women’s Affairs in the district
of Kandahar, Afghanistan:
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I extend my deepest condolences to the
family of Ms. Safia Amajan, Director of Women's Affairs in the district of Kandahar,
Afghanistan.
“Ms. Amajan devoted her life to the cause of advancing women’s rights, and because of
this, her life was cut short in a brutal and violent attack by the Taliban. Canada
condemns this heinous crime, which along with other recent attacks, demonstrates that
the Taliban seek only to destroy life and the fundamental freedoms we hold dear.
“For this reason, Canada—alongside 36 other countries serving under the NATO-led
mission—remains steadfast in its determination to support efforts to empower Afghan
women to participate in civil society and in government.
“The shooting of Safia Amajan occurred Monday following the deaths on Friday of
19 construction workers who were killed as their bus was bombed and fired upon in
Kandahar province. Today, reports indicate that at least 18 people have been killed in
an explosion near a governor's office and mosque in southern Afghanistan.”
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
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