KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Roya Mahboob, a tech entrepreneur and co-founder of Afghanistan’s Girls Robotic Team, has been awarded the “Courage in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics” award by the Liberty Science Center in the United States.
The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional bravery in promoting STEM fields, particularly under challenging circumstances.
Paul Hoffman, President and CEO of the Liberty Science Center, praised Mahboob’s journey in a post on X (formerly Twitter), calling her story “inspirational” and aligned with the center’s mission to inspire future scientists and innovators.
Ms. Mahboob thanked the center for the award, saying it belongs to every girl who dares to dream beyond restrictions placed upon them.
“This award is for every young woman who sees herself not as a victim of her circumstances but as a future scientist, engineer, or innovator,” she wrote on X.
Ms. Mahboob and the Afghan Girls Robotic Team have received several international awards in recent years for their achievements in technology and innovation.
The recognition comes as women and girls in Afghanistan continue to face sweeping restrictions under the Taliban rule, including bans on education, employment, and participation in public life.
UN experts, rights groups, and activists have described the Taliban’s policies as a form of gender apartheid aimed at systematically erasing women from society.
Despite international condemnation, including from several Islamic countries and organizations, the Taliban continue to defend their actions as consistent with their interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan traditions.
