With the kind help of Mrs Nushin Arbabzadah.
Following Habibullah Khan's assassination in 1919,
the prince took over control of the army and became
the king of Afghanistan in 1919. From this moment
onwards, Queen Soraya played an important part in
political life in Afghanistan, in particular as a
champion of the king's ambitious modernization
project. She is credited with setting up the first ever
Afghan women's hospital and girls' school as well as
being the first woman to have publicly taken off her
veil during a Loya Jerga (Grand Council) meeting in
1928. For this reason, she can be considered the first
modern Afghan woman. King Amanullah Khan's reign
came to an abrupt end following a rebellion carried
out by the Shinwari tribe in 1928. Queen Soraya and
her husband fled the country and spent the rest of
their lives in European exile. Queen Soraya died in
1968 in Rome. Her youngest daughter, Princess India,
has recently visited Afghanistan, setting up various
charity projects.
the prince took over control of the army and became
the king of Afghanistan in 1919. From this moment
onwards, Queen Soraya played an important part in
political life in Afghanistan, in particular as a
champion of the king's ambitious modernization
project. She is credited with setting up the first ever
Afghan women's hospital and girls' school as well as
being the first woman to have publicly taken off her
veil during a Loya Jerga (Grand Council) meeting in
1928. For this reason, she can be considered the first
modern Afghan woman. King Amanullah Khan's reign
came to an abrupt end following a rebellion carried
out by the Shinwari tribe in 1928. Queen Soraya and
her husband fled the country and spent the rest of
their lives in European exile. Queen Soraya died in
1968 in Rome. Her youngest daughter, Princess India,
has recently visited Afghanistan, setting up various
charity projects.
Exile of the family of Queen Soraya
of Afghanistan, 1929 France
of Afghanistan, 1929 France
Visit of the King
Amanullah Khan and
the Queen Soraya of
Afghanistan in
Germany.
Amanullah Khan and
the Queen Soraya of
Afghanistan in
Germany.
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The Queen Soraya of Afghanistan
Queen Soraya of Afghanistan (1899-1968), wife of King Amanullah Khan (1892-1960), was
born in the Damascus province of the Ottoman Empire in what is now Syria. Her mother,
Asma Rasmia, was the daughter of the Omayyad mosque's muezzin. Her father, Sardar
Mahmud Tarzi (1865-1933), was the son of a prominent Afghan poet and intellectual sent
into exile by Amir Abdul Rahman Khan (1880-1901) due to political rivalry. The family
initially lived in Karachi and then sought refuge in the Ottoman empire and settled in
Damascus. A progressive-minded intellectual, Sardar Mahmud Tarzi encouraged his
daughter Soraya to study and taught her modern values.
After Amir Abdul Rahman's Khan's death in 1901, his son and heir
Amir Habibullah Khan authorized the Afghan families that had been into exile by his father
to return to Afghanistan. The Tarzi family returned to Afghanistan in the beginning
of the 20th century and established contact with the court. The Afghan royal family, in
particular Prince Amanullah Khan, was interested in Sardar Mahmud Tarzi's modern ideas
and became close to the Tarzi family, eventually marrying Tarzi's daughter, Soraya, in
August 1913.
born in the Damascus province of the Ottoman Empire in what is now Syria. Her mother,
Asma Rasmia, was the daughter of the Omayyad mosque's muezzin. Her father, Sardar
Mahmud Tarzi (1865-1933), was the son of a prominent Afghan poet and intellectual sent
into exile by Amir Abdul Rahman Khan (1880-1901) due to political rivalry. The family
initially lived in Karachi and then sought refuge in the Ottoman empire and settled in
Damascus. A progressive-minded intellectual, Sardar Mahmud Tarzi encouraged his
daughter Soraya to study and taught her modern values.
After Amir Abdul Rahman's Khan's death in 1901, his son and heir
Amir Habibullah Khan authorized the Afghan families that had been into exile by his father
to return to Afghanistan. The Tarzi family returned to Afghanistan in the beginning
of the 20th century and established contact with the court. The Afghan royal family, in
particular Prince Amanullah Khan, was interested in Sardar Mahmud Tarzi's modern ideas
and became close to the Tarzi family, eventually marrying Tarzi's daughter, Soraya, in
August 1913.
AFGHANISTAN OLD PHOTOS
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