Shukria Barakzai (Pashto: شکريه بارکزۍ) is an Afghan politician, journalist and Muslim feminist.

[5] Barakzai credits technology such as mobile phones, banned under the Taliban regime, with helping young Afghans integrate with the modern world.

[4] (Reporters Without Borders ranks Afghanistan 156 out of 173 in its list of press freedom, and says the situation is especially difficult for women and those working in the provinces.

[7]) Barakzai was appointed a member of the 2003 loya jirga, a body of representatives from all over Afghanistan that was nominated to discuss and pass the new constitution after the fall of the Taliban.

[9] She is one of only a handful of female MPs who speak up for women's rights, and faces death threats for her views.

She defended Malalai Joya, another female MP who has condemned warlordism, who faced abuse and threats of violence in parliament: "I was I think the only one which is I just announced that some MPs were threatening to rape her.

"[4] She opposes U.S. President Barack Obama's troop build-up plan, asking for "30,000 scholars or engineers" instead of that many soldiers.