Matiullah Wesa, an education activist and advocate for the right to education in Afghanistan, especially for girls, has won the “Freedom 2026” award. This award was presented by the Normandy region in France, based on the votes of thousands of people from around the world.
According to the organizers, 18,708 young people from 75 countries participated in the voting process and chose Wesa as the winner of the eighth edition of this award. The Normandy region also confirmed this selection in an official statement.
Matiullah Wesa is the founder of the “Rah-e Qalam” (Path of the Pen) Association, an organization that, with the help of thousands of volunteers, works to promote education, especially in underprivileged areas of Afghanistan, with a particular focus on girls’ right to education.
He began his work at the age of 17 and later made efforts to establish schools in remote areas. These initiatives aimed to expand access to education in underserved regions.
In March 2023, Wesa was arrested by the Taliban due to his activities and spent seven months in prison.
Currently, Afghanistan is the only country in the world where secondary and higher education for girls and women is officially banned.
The Freedom Award was established in 2019 by the Normandy region and the International Institute for Human Rights and Peace, and it is awarded annually to individuals or organizations that have played a prominent role in defending human freedoms.
The award ceremony is scheduled for June 4 in the city of Caen, France, with the participation of more than 4,000 young people and several World War II veterans.
In 2025, Gisele Pelissier, a well-known figure in the fight against sexual violence in France, was also a recipient of this award.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
