Bettina Goislard
Encyclopedia
Bettina Goislard was a French
employee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR), assigned to its mission in Afghanistan
. She was the first United Nations
worker to be killed in that country since the fall of the Taliban in December 2001.
Goislard, the daughter of career diplomat
Bernard Goislard and his English
wife, was born in Saumur
, France. She took a degree in Arabic
in Paris
and Cairo
and, after graduation, was hired by the UNHCR in June 1999 for a field assignment in Rwanda
. She spent almost three years there, working to assist returning refugee
s. She then moved on to Guinea
and then Afghanistan in June 2002.
In Afghanistan, she was involved in the UNHCR's efforts to help about 50,000 displaced Afghan refugees return to their homes in and around the city of Ghazni
in the southeast of the country.
On 16 November 2003, while driving through the streets of Ghazni in a clearly identified UNHCR vehicle, she was shot at point-blank range by two men on a motorcycle. She was pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital some minutes later. Her two assailants were caught and beaten by a local crowd, and then taken into custody by local security forces.
On 18 November, the Taliban claimed responsibility for her murder, citing Goislard's Christianity
as their motivation. The UN immediately scaled back its efforts in Afghanistan, withdrawing its international refugee workers from four provinces. Two days later, in accordance with her wishes, Bettina Goislard was buried in Kabul
.
On 10 February 2004, her two assailants Zia Ahmad and Abdul Nabi, both government employees under the former Taliban régime, were convicted of the murder and sentenced to be executed. The men are said to be planning an appeal against the decision. A month later, Taliban rebels kidnapped a Turkish
highway engineer and his Afghan driver and threatened to kill them unless Ahmad and Nabi were released. The Turkish engineer and his Afghan driver were released unconditionally a few months later.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
employee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , also known as The UN Refugee Agency is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to...
(UNHCR), assigned to its mission in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. She was the first United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
worker to be killed in that country since the fall of the Taliban in December 2001.
Goislard, the daughter of career diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
Bernard Goislard and his English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
wife, was born in Saumur
Saumur
Saumur is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France.The historic town is located between the Loire and Thouet rivers, and is surrounded by the vineyards of Saumur itself, Chinon, Bourgueil, Coteaux du Layon, etc...
, France. She took a degree in Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
and, after graduation, was hired by the UNHCR in June 1999 for a field assignment in Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
. She spent almost three years there, working to assist returning refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s. She then moved on to Guinea
Guinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
and then Afghanistan in June 2002.
In Afghanistan, she was involved in the UNHCR's efforts to help about 50,000 displaced Afghan refugees return to their homes in and around the city of Ghazni
Ghazni
For the Province of Ghazni see Ghazni ProvinceGhazni is a city in central-east Afghanistan with a population of about 141,000 people...
in the southeast of the country.
On 16 November 2003, while driving through the streets of Ghazni in a clearly identified UNHCR vehicle, she was shot at point-blank range by two men on a motorcycle. She was pronounced dead upon arrival at a hospital some minutes later. Her two assailants were caught and beaten by a local crowd, and then taken into custody by local security forces.
On 18 November, the Taliban claimed responsibility for her murder, citing Goislard's Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
as their motivation. The UN immediately scaled back its efforts in Afghanistan, withdrawing its international refugee workers from four provinces. Two days later, in accordance with her wishes, Bettina Goislard was buried in Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
.
On 10 February 2004, her two assailants Zia Ahmad and Abdul Nabi, both government employees under the former Taliban régime, were convicted of the murder and sentenced to be executed. The men are said to be planning an appeal against the decision. A month later, Taliban rebels kidnapped a Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
highway engineer and his Afghan driver and threatened to kill them unless Ahmad and Nabi were released. The Turkish engineer and his Afghan driver were released unconditionally a few months later.