Zala Zazai is a former Afghan police officer who worked in Khost Province. In 2021, she was named on the BBC 100 Women list.[1]
Zazai was born into a Zazi Karlan Pashtun family that did not support girl's education; however, her mother pushed for Zazai to be able to study.[2][3]
Zazai trained as a police officer in Turkey.[2][3] She was sworn in as the deputy chief of the criminal investigation police department in Khost Province in June 2020.[2] Her appointment received mixed reactions from the community, as she was the first woman police officer in the province, which has been characterized as conservative and traditional.[2][3]
Zazai left Afghanistan for Tajikistan following the Taliban takeover of the country in August 2021.[4]
Some of Zazai's extended family stopped talking to her following her swearing in as deputy chief;[2] she reported receiving death threats from her father and uncles for taking the job.[5]