Afghan Judge to Refugee

I met Marzia Babakarkhail in 2015. I volunteered to record the stories of refugees in Manchester for the North West Regional Asylum Project . What she told me was so powerful, that I suggested Woman’s Hour broadcast the material I had collected and edited.

Marzia was a barrister and later a judge in Afghanistan until the Taliban forced her to flee the country. They tried to kill her once and when she was threatened again she got on a plane with only her handbag.

She has lived in Oldham for six years and is determined to improve her English with the help of her friend Chris. This story focuses on her struggle to get to Britain and then the challenges refugees face when they get here.

Since this broadcast Marzia continues to campaign for women like her and to raise awareness about the female judges left behind.