SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has commended the Linda Norgrove Foundation after the Lewis-based charity’s efforts to bring a group of female Afghan medical students to Scotland have been successful.

The Linda Norgrove Foundation was established in 2010 by John and Lorna Norgrove after their daughter Linda, an aid worker, was tragically killed in a rescue operation while being held hostage by the Taliban.

Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in 2021, the charity has been working with the Scottish and UK Governments to try and bring a small number of women to Scotland to complete their medical studies, after authorities banned women from attending university (as well as girls from attending secondary schools).

The group of 19 students arrived in Edinburgh earlier this week.

Commenting, Alasdair Allan said:

“I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Linda Norgrove Foundation for working tirelessly to support women and girls in Afghanistan, and for their unwavering commitment to bringing this group of medical students to Scotland to complete their studies, despite the countless challenges encountered in doing so.

“I would also like to warmly welcome these courageous young women to Scotland, and wish them the very best as they settle in to their new home and complete their studies at our country’s medical schools. Thanks are also due to the Education Secretary for her support on this matter and her work to amend the necessary legislation to allow the students to have their tuition fees covered by the Scottish Government.”

The foundation’s John Norgrove said:

“We’re all delighted to have finally succeeded after so much frustration. Finally these 19 incredibly talented young women get their future back with the opportunity of a tremendous education and a career. The alternative for them in Afghanistan wasn’t good.”

One of the students, Omulbanin Sultani, said:

“We endured one thousand days of suffering to reach this point. One thousand days of being confined to our homes, of having our voices silenced with nothing but tears and sorrow, our lives wasting away. But throughout these harsh and unbearable days, the only motivation of light in our dark world was the presence of the Linda Norgrove Foundation, who stood beside us and never let us feel alone.”