“I want to welcome former Afghan women politicians visiting Parliament today. Members from different Canadian parties helped six of them escape Afghanistan. A seventh, Mursal Nabizada, was killed in Kabul before she could get out. I am honouring her memory and everyone who risks their lives for freedom.”

“Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to rise today to acknowledge the presence on Parliament Hill of former Afghan women parliamentarians. These women were able to escape Afghanistan thanks in part to the efforts of a small group of parliamentarians, a group of which I am proud to be a member. They were members of the Afghan Parliament until the fall of Kabul, when they were forced to flee their country. There were seven of them, but only six managed to escape the Taliban. On January 15, 2023, we heard the tragic news that Mursal Nabizada had been brutally murdered in her home at the age of 32, along with her bodyguard. I was deeply saddened by her passing, but I am proud of what we accomplished. We demonstrated that, regardless of political affiliation, the common good must always come first. We drew courage from the example of a woman who should have been here with us today but sadly is not. That is why I wanted to say a few words in her memory and pay tribute to all the women and men who risked their lives for democracy and freedom.”