How Athens became the unexpected hub for Afghan women

ATHENS — The women of Afghanistan’s deposed democracy have found a temporary home in an unlikely location: Athens.

In recent months, Greece appears to have welcomed more women fleeing Afghanistan than any other country, turning its capital city into a remote hub for Kabul’s former political scene. In just a matter of weeks, the city has become the landing place for more than 700 of Afghanistan’s female judges, lawmakers, journalists and lawyers, together with their families — the hallmarks of a democratic society no longer welcome after the Taliban takeover in August.

They have arrived with the help of NGOs, international aid groups and several individuals who lobbied Greek leaders directly. Amed Khan, an American philanthropist, is one of those individuals. He coordinated a weeks-long effort to get dozens of female Afghanis and their families to Greece after securing almost instantaneous authorization from Greek officials.

Source: POLITICO

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