Roya Karimi’s struggle (Photo-Instagram)
Bodybuilder Roya Karimi, who settled in Norway from Afghanistan, is an example for those girls who are suffering oppression in some way or the other. Roya Karimi took a big decision to change her difficult life and today she is not one, not two, but five-time world champion. Roya Karimi got married at the age of 14 and had a son at the age of 15. At the age of 17, this player decided to escape from Afghanistan and then traveled thousands of kilometers. Started a new life in far away Norway.
Roya Karimi’s struggle
Roya Karimi, in an interview given to DW Hindi, narrated the story of her oppression and then how she changed her life after facing that pain. Roya Karimi said, ‘I got married when I was 14 years old and had a child at the age of 15. My ex-husband broke my nose. That family, that environment was like a prison. I had no rights there. I couldn’t take my own decisions. I suffered that for years and did not get any love in the family. They used to do a lot of violence among themselves. I was also beaten up.
Left the country at the age of 17
Roya’s decision at the age of 17 changed his life. She took her child in her lap and left her country. Roya said, ‘I found peace after coming to Norway. I could live in peace. I felt happy to be in Norway. I worked hard in Norway. Apart from studies, he started a gym for peace of mind. In 2011-12, I took the help of gym to deal with mental and physical problems. In Norway, Roya enrolled in nursing school and started afresh.
Roya’s journey
Roya’s second marriage with Kamal
In Norway, Roya met Kamal, who was himself an Afghan refugee. Both met in college, fell in love and got married. Kamal inspired Roya to take up bodybuilding. He trained hard and now he is a 5-time IFBB World Champion. Roya’s son Irfan Karimi is also proud of his mother. He has seen his mother fighting in every situation. Today Roya Karimi is quite popular on social media. She encourages other girls through social media. Roya’s message to women is that they should maintain discipline to change their lives. Roya says that every victory of hers is for the rights of Afghan women.
