Once a shepherd girl - who tended goats and fetched water from the well - Najat moved to France and faced the real world full of opportunities as well as struggles. The Moroccan girl who had no proficiency in French. Her father who laid strict rules for his daughters - no boys and no nightclubs till the age of 18. As a result, the girls surrendered completely, themselves to studies
Najat got the opportunity to pursue higher education with the prestigious Institut d’études politiques . This set her on the path winding the political landscape in France. Najat worked two jobs to take the financial load off her parents while pursuing her Master's in Public Administration.
Najat's political career began with her joining the Socialist Party as an adviser to the mayor of Lyon. She later ran for elections and won the seat of the Councillor. She served as the Minister of Women’s Rights, Minister of City Affairs, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports. In 2012, she was appointed as the Minister of Women’s Affairs by François Hollande, the then Socialist president. She became the official spokesperson in Hollande government.
The nasty response of French Muslims.
No one likes if you want to do good. That is what exactly happened when she Najat started her work in the most important position. When Najat became minister for women's rights in Hollande's cabinet, French Muslims had high hopes – sadly they have been disappointed when she voiced against burqa and supported burqa ban when sarkozy introduced it. (When President Hollande refused to overturn the "burqa ban" he was commented as awkward and insensitive.) She not only articulated her country's most pressing contemporary problems, she took the bold first step to solving them. When she pledged to "see prostitution disappear" working girls in Paris have accused her of trying to drive a relatively well regulated industry underground. Several protest marches and demonstrations were carried out. Muslim in France saw her as a threat to their beliefs and life styles. Even the haters targeted her with sexiest comments. She was accused of wearing lipstick and there was a row on her black bra that a tiny portion of the bra lace is visible.
Everybody demands change but the moment you start changing they throw stones. Intrepid people like Najat are not deterred by stones. She has proved that if education can take you to France your determination and inner strength can make you education minister.
