When Education and Culture Clash Head-on

Afghanistan's Pioneer in Muslim Women's Education

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Aziz Amir is a Risk Mitigation Advisor and a cardiologist based in Kabul, Afghanistan. In 2016, Amir opened the first, the largest, and the most unique educational complex of its kind for women in the history of Afghanistan, the Moraa Educational Complex (MEC).

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"One of the main causes of the long lasting conflict and violence in Afghanistan is lack of education and specifically lack of education for women. Women have long been marginalized and deprived from access to education. Children of educated mothers are very less likely to join terrorist organizations and destroy their own country." - Aziz Amir                                                                                                                    

​Dr. Aziz Amir was recently interviewed on BBC radio about the beginnings of his remarkable women-only university in Kabul--Afghanistan's first and accomplished without outside support or funding. 

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You can access this remarkable January 2, 2018 BBC interview here.​

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The Moraa Educational Complex (MEC), located in 42,000 square meter area in Kabul, includes a well-equipped modern nursery, kindergarten, high school, midwifery school (midwifery, nursing, medical technology, anesthesia, radiology, pharmacy, dentistry, physiotherapy), university (medicine, computer science, BBA and education), a multi-specialty hospital (to be built) and a dormitory having capacity of 960 students (female only).

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This video is of the 2016 formal ribbon-cutting ceremony opening of MEC attended by Her Excellency the First Lady of Afghanistan, Rula Ghani along with the Ministers of Education and Higher Education. Aziz is in a dark suit and tie to the left of the First Lady (in green with sunglasses).