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Transcript/ScriptAfghan Secret Female Platoon
HEADLINE: Secret Female Afghan Commando Wants to Fight in MMA
TEASER: ‘I want to show them that women can do this,’ Hawa Haidari says
PUBLISHED AT: 10/13/2022 at 3:40pm
BYLINE: Carolyn Presutti
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Spokane, Washington
VIDEOGRAPHER: Natasha Mozgovaya, Adam Greenbaum
VIDEO EDITOR: SKS, Mia Bush
SCRIPT EDITORS:
VIDEO SOURCE (S): Original, Haidari photos,
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB X__ TV X__ RADIO X__
TRT: 2:48
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TV
EDITOR NOTES:
*****THE INTERVIEW WITH HAWA WAS ALSO DONE IN DARI AND SHE IS FINE FOR THE AFGHAN SERVICE TO USE IT. THERE IS A MATCHING WEB ARTICLE WITH PHOTOS —BUT THE WEB IS NOT FOR ANY MIDEAST USE THAT COULD BE SEEN BY RELATIVES IN AFGHANISTAN OR PAKISTAN*****))
((INTRO:))
[[During the war in Afghanistan, a secret Afghan female platoon helped U.S. forces flush out the Taliban. More than 40 of those commandos are now in the United States. You may be shocked by the career path one of these women is taking. VOA’s Senior Washington Correspondent Carolyn Presutti explains.]]
Nat sound at gym
((NARRATOR))
Hawa Haidari has a dream.
((NAT of training))
((NARRATOR))
A daily burn, a driving need to be … “the first.”
She’s already accomplished much today -- up at dawn, catching several bus rides for her first appointment…
((NATS))
TEACHER: “this scene, same structure”
((NARRATOR))
…learning her new language.
((NATS))
TEACHER: “look for paragraph, paragraph, paragraph”
((NARRATOR))
Then more bus rides to fit in core training before work.
((NAT of training))
((NARRATOR))
Haidari wants to be the first Afghan female fighter in MMA — Mixed Martial Arts.
((Hawa Haidari, Afghan Female Tactical Platoon))
“I want to be a strong woman, a strongest Afghan woman here.”
((Carolyn Presutti, VOA News (STANDUP VERSION)))
“Fighting is nothing new to her. Haidari was part of a secret mission, more than 10,000 kilometers from here, in Afghanistan.””
((NARRATOR))
((courtesy Hawa Haidari))
((NARRATOR))
During the Afghanistan conflict, a secret female platoon ferreted out the Taliban alongside U.S. Special Forces.
((courtesy: Mina))
At that time, no Afghan male expected an Afghan female to carry an M4 rifle or a 9mm pistol. It was also taboo to work alongside men.
((Hawa Haidari, Afghan Female Tactical Platoon))
“Because they thought that special forces, working that, is just for someone very strong, just for men and not for female.”
((NARRATOR))
((Mandatory courtesy: Hawa Haidari))
Haidari’s mission was overnight raids on terrorists.
((Hawa Haidari, Afghan Female Tactical Platoon))
“We use night vision, we use rifle, we go through their house, searching for a special person.”
((NAT IN DC))
((NARRATOR))
Haidari joined her platoon members, including her former commander, at a reunion at the Military Women’s Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery outside Washington, D.C.
((Mandatory courtesy: Hawa Haidari))
There, they remembered Haidari’s best friend who was murdered by her fiancée’s family because she was a member of the female platoon.
((end courtesy))
((Nat hugging))
((NARRATOR))
Forty-two members of the female tactical platoon – or FTP –
((Mandatory courtesy: Hawa Haidari))
escaped to the U.S. and are now fighting another fight
((end courtesy))
– that of their immigration status. The secret program was financed by the Afghan government
((Mandatory courtesy: Hawa Haidari))
under the supervision and training of U.S. forces.
((Mandatory courtesy: Mina))
So they lack necessary papers for a coveted Special Immigrant Visa.
((NARRATOR))
Most, including this woman we will call Mina,
((end courtesy))
...are Hazara, a persecuted minority in Afghanistan -- now with a double bounty on their heads, making it impossible for them to return.
(("Mina,” Afghan Female Tactical Platoon))
“If they knew about me as a member of the FTP, of course, they just would have killed me.”
((nat at gym))
((NARRATOR))
Haidari says her MMA goal won’t be reached for at least five years. But her stamina keeps up. Because for her, this is simply another achievable fight, without a man holding her back.
((nat of male trainer))
“go again”
((NARRATOR))
Carolyn Presutti, VOA News, Spokane, Washington.
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Spokane, Washington
Embargo DateOctober 13, 2022 17:31 EDT
Byline VOA’s Senior Washington Correspondent
Carolyn Presutti explains.
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
