Time magazine has included Afghan educator and women’s rights activist Shabana Basij Rasikh in its list of the 100 most influential people of 2026.
Rasikh, founder of the Sule School in Afghanistan, has been recognized in the list for her work supporting girls’ right to education.
According to Time, Rasikh views education as a “tool for freedom.” Following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021 and restrictions on girls’ education, she moved the school’s students to Rwanda.
The Sule School, which was previously based in Kabul, now operates in exile and continues its educational activities outside Afghanistan.
Rasikh has continued to speak publicly about the importance of education for Afghan girls and women and the challenges they face under restrictions imposed by the Taliban authorities.
In a message to Time, Rasikh said Afghan women and girls would not give up and urged the international community not to turn away from them.
Her inclusion in the 2026 list highlights the international attention surrounding efforts to maintain educational opportunities for Afghan girls amid continued restrictions on their access to education.