Salamat Azimi

Salamat Azimi (born 1965) is an Afghan politician who served as Counter Narcotics Minister.

Salamat Azimi
Born1965 (age 57–58)
Andkhoy, Faryab, Afghanistan
Alma mater
Occupations
  • Law professor
  • politician
EmployerBalkh University
Counter Narcotics Minister
In office
21 April 2015 – 15 August 2021
PresidentAshraf Ghani

Early life and education

Azimi was born in Andkhoy District of Faryab Province in 1965. She is an ethnic Uzbek.[1] She attended Abu-Muslim Khurasani High School and received a BA in law and political science from Kabul University. She received a master's degree from Payame Noor University in 2014.[2]

Career

Azimi was professor in law and political science and head of the criminal law department at Balkh University.[1] She was a member of the national peace consultative jirga of Balkh in 2011 and a member of the traditional Loya jirga from Balkh Province in 2012. From 2011 to 2015, she was in charge of children's rights protection for northern Afghanistan, working at the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission in Mazar-i-Sharif.[1] She also worked as a director for the Aryana Legal Organization.[2]

Azimi was appointed as Minister of Counter Narcotics by President Ashraf Ghani on 21 April 2015.[1][3][4] She is viewed by the United States as a "Dostum" appointee.[5] The role has been described as the world's toughest job.[6] In July 2015, Azimi said that 3.5 million people in Afghanistan were addicts,[7] and in 2016, opium cultivation increased by 10%.[8]

In November 2016, the Wolesi Jirga dismissed seven cabinet members over four days during impeachment hearings. Azimi obtained a vote of confidence, with 71 votes.[9]

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has been working with the Ministry for counter Narcotics of Afghanistan. Together they organized a two-day conference on "Promoting Afghanistan's Alternative Development Initiatives among Regional and International Partners" in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Professor Salamat Azimi, Afghanistan's Minister for Counter Narcotics informed the conference about her government's policies to upkeep this goal. Other countries participating in the conference were Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Thailand and Colombia. United States, Russia, Japan and the European Union also supported the conference.[10]

Personal life

Azimi is married and has five children.[1]

References
  1. "Finally Towards a Complete Afghan Cabinet? The next 16 minister nominees and their bios (amended)". Afghanistan Analysts Network. 24 March 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  2. "Who is in Afghan Cabinet". Pajhwok Afghan News. 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  3. "Afghan cabinet nearly complete after months of delay". BBC. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  4. "Afghan parliament approves 16 more Cabinet nominees". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Associated Press. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  5. Tlisova, Fatima; Zahid, Noor (26 April 2016). "Snubbed by US, Afghan Warlord Looked to Russia". VOA News. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  6. Zabriskie, Phil (30 September 2009). "Afghanistan's drug czar – world's toughest job". CNN.
  7. "Salamat Azimi: 11% of the Afghan Population Are Drug Addicts". Women Press. 15 July 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  8. "Afghan opium cultivation jumps 10 per cent in 2016: United Nations". The Indian Express. 23 October 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  9. "Afghan MPs dismiss Communications and IT minister, approve 3 other ministers". Khaama Press. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  10. Tag: Professor Salamat AzimiUNODC, Afghanistan partner to strengthen drug control and promote economic development in the country
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