Aisha Mohammadzai

Bibi Aisha (; Bibi is a term of respect meaning "Lady"; born Aisha Mohammadzai, legal name in the United States: Aesha Mohammadzai) is an Afghan woman who fled from an abusive marriage she was forced into as a teenager, but was caught, jailed, mutilated and left to die as revenge for her escape. She was later rescued by aid workers and her story was featured in American news as an example of the effects of the Taliban's reign of terror on women. As of 2014, she lives in Maryland as the adoptive daughter of an Afghan-American couple and has received reconstructive surgery.

Early life Aisha was born in 1991 into a Mohammadzai family in Afghanistan. Aisha and the man were married when she was 14.

Appearances in American news Aisha's story first appeared in The Daily Beast in December 2009, which prompted many doctors to offer free help and reconstructive surgeries. The Grossmann Burn Foundation in California pledged to perform the necessary surgeries and began organizing for her visa in the spring of 2010.

In March 2010, Diane Sawyer of ABC News covered her story, which she would revisit in 2014.

Aisha was featured on the August 2010 cover of Time magazine and in the corresponding article, "Afghan Women and the Return of the Taliban." The cover image generated enormous international controversy. The image and the accompanying cover title, "What Happens if We Leave Afghanistan", fueled debate about the Afghan War. Her cover photo was taken by the South African photographer Jodi Bieber and awarded the World Press Photo Award in 2010. This image of Aisha is sometimes compared to the Afghan Girl photograph of Sharbat Gula taken by Steve McCurry.

Life in the United States Shortly after Times cover in August 2010, Aisha was flown to the United States to receive free reconstructive surgery. While her reconstructive surgery was delayed, she was taken in by the Women for Afghan Women shelter in Queens, New York. In 2014 ABC News revisited Aisha and revealed how her new nose has altered her appearance.

Aisha has been adopted by an Afghan-American couple, and, as of 2014, lives in Maryland. She studies English and mathematics and aspires to be a police officer.