If you're a fan of National Geographic, you likely remember this chilling photo of an Afghan woman that was published on the cover in 1985. The photo went on to become a symbol of the war in Afghanistan and is famous around the world.
The woman in the photograph, Sharbat Gula, was arrested in the Pakistani city of Peshawar on Wednesday after being caught with illegal identity cards.
“We raided the house and picked her up,” said Shahid Ilyas, the assistant director of the Federal Investigation Authority. “It took us a while to collect all the evidence against her, and the officials involved in helping her and her two sons get Pakistani national identity cards. We have the evidence now, and we are going to go for prosecution.”
According to Pakistani authorities, Gula illegally obtained a Pakistani ID card in 1988 and a computerized identity card in 2014, all while maintaining her Afghan passport she used to travel from Saudi Arabia in 2014. She could face up to 14 years in prison and a fine of $3,000 - $5,000 if convicted.
Gula was only 12 years old when she was originally photographed for National Geographic by Steve McCurry. Her red scarf and piercing eyes took the world by storm and she became quickly became known as the "Afghan girl." The photographer searched for her again in 2002 and eventually found her in the Afghan mountains. The second photo, taken 17 years later, was just as mesmerizing as the first.
According to Pakistani authorities, Gula illegally obtained a Pakistani ID card in 1988 and a computerized identity card in 2014, all while maintaining her Afghan passport she used to travel from Saudi Arabia in 2014. She could face up to 14 years in prison and a fine of $3,000 - $5,000 if convicted.
Gula was only 12 years old when she was originally photographed for National Geographic by Steve McCurry. Her red scarf and piercing eyes took the world by storm and she became quickly became known as the "Afghan girl." The photographer searched for her again in 2002 and eventually found her in the Afghan mountains. The second photo, taken 17 years later, was just as mesmerizing as the first.