Three Afghan women studying at Roger Williams University witness their nation's first national vote over the Internet.

01:00 AM EDT on Sunday, October 10, 2004

BY MICHAEL CORKERY
Journal Staff Writer

BRISTOL -- Back home, the election was in dispute. The candidates were threatening boycotts and alleging fraud.

But the three friends, sitting in the cafeteria at Roger Williams University, could not have been happier.

A presidential election was held yesterday in their native Afghanistan. That alone was reason to celebrate, they said.

"It doesn't matter if they vote ten times," said Arezo Kohistani, 23, a sophomore, referring to widespread allegations of multiple-vote fraud. "They are voting for peace."

Mahbooba Babrakzai, 20, a junior, woke up yesterday, logged on to the Internet and saw pictures of Afghans lining up to vote. "Everyone in line had a smile. I could see hope in their eyes," she said.

Nadima Sahar, 18, a junior, said the unthinkable happened yesterday: A woman was on the ballot in a country that was ruled three years ago by the hard-line Taliban regime.

The first Afghan presidential election since the fall of the Taliban will invite plenty of analysis and critique. President Bush has highlighted the moment as part of his effort to spread democracy around the world; many experts say the election, while symbolic, comes amid growing instability and lawlessness across the countryside.

But this moment has an intensely personal significance for the three Afghan students at Roger Williams University.

It was another step, they said, in their country's journey from a war-ravaged cauldron of religious oppression to a more peaceful and functioning society.

"At first it was hard to believe that it was changing," said Sahar, whose family lives in Kabul. But she has watched, over time, reforms of the judicial system, the drafting of a new Constitution and finally the direct presidential election.

"Now I believe it," she said.

The Afghan women have traveled their own unique journey -- from Kabul, where they grew up, to the tree-lined, red-brick campus in Bristol where they are studying.

They are part of the Initiative to Educate Afghan Women, a scholarship program started by Paula Nirschel, who is married to the Roger Williams president.

The students were unable to vote yesterday, but they have been in touch with their families in Afghanistan by phone and e-mail. "My brother was, like, 'I can vote,' " said Babrakzai.

In their minds, there was no question. All three students would have supported Dr. Massoda Jalal, the only woman running. "She has the courage. She makes a road for everyone," Sahar said. About 40 percent of the registered voters were women.

Sahar wishes she could have had two votes: one for Jalal, a physician, and the other for interim President Hamid Karzai, the front-runner.

The students all said they believe Karzai has done a good job leading the country over the past three years.

They chuckled about reports that the ink being used to mark voters' hands -- to prevent them from voting twice -- washed off easily. "It is a new experience," said Kohistani.

They know that the situation in Afghanistan is far from perfect, but said it's markedly better than life under the Taliban.

"There might be minor wars between warlords, but this is something really different," Sahar said.

The students lived in Pakistan during much of Taliban's rule, which ended after the U.S. intervention following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

The students see themselves as part of the worldwide community of Afghan refugees, numbering several million in Pakistan, Iran, Europe and the United States. "They are watching, waiting to come back," said Sahar.

Added Babrakzai, "Everyone wants to be at home."

All three women returned to Afghanistan during their school vacation last summer. Babrakzai worked with a nongovernmental organization and helped a woman draw up a business plan for a clothing store in Kabul. Kohistani worked with an organization assisting refugees.

Their plan is to return home after graduating from Roger Williams, but that feels a long way away.

Mid-terms are next week. Papers are piling up. Presentations. Tests. "I'm going crazy," said Sahar.

The women studied until 2 o'clock yesterday morning. They take their academics seriously.

While Babrakzai woke up yesterday to check on the historic election, Sahar and Kohistani slept late.

That, too, was something of a first.