We speak with Afghan women’s rights activist Malalai Joya, an elected representative to the December 2003 Loya Jirga convention in Kabul to create Afghanistan’s new constitution. She received numerous death threats for speaking out against fundamentalist leaders–including from Ismail Khan–the governor of Herat who was recently fired by President Karzai, sparking demonstrations and violence. [includes rush transcript]

The US military has announced it killed 22 suspected Taliban and al-Qaeda militants in a gun battle in southern Afghanistan late Sunday.

The BBC reports American troops and helicopters fought the insurgents in the Shinkay district of Zabul province which is widely regarded as a Taliban stronghold. He said about 40 militants armed with AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades had attacked American troops on patrol.

Meanwhile, in the west of Afghanistan, about 50 UN staff and aid workers are preparing to leave the city of Herat following clashes between troops and angry demonstrators Sunday.

At least seven people were killed and up to 50 injured when U.S.-backed Afghan President Hamid Karzai fired the powerful governor of Herat, Ismail Khan. Protests against Khan’s removal turned violent when supporters torched buildings in a U.N. compound in the city.

Khan is a veteran mujahideen leader and a critic of U.S.-backed government and Washington’s policies in Afghanistan. Karzai fired Khan and appointed a replacement as part of his campaign pledge to rein in warlords.

Reuters reports the city of Herat accounts for 8 percent of the more than 10 million Afghans who have registered to vote in Afghanistan’s presidential election, which pits Karzai against 17 challengers.

We are joined in the studio by Malalai Joya, an elected representative to the December 2003 Loya Jirga–or Grand Council–convention in Kabul to create Afghanistan’s new constitution. At the convention, Joya spoke out against the council chairman’s proposal to appoint high clergy members and fundamentalist leaders to guide planning groups.

She objected saying several of those religious leaders were war criminals who should be on trial–not hailed as national heroes to influence the new government. As a result of her speaking out, Malalai Joya received numerous death threats–including from Ismail Khan. She continued at Loya Jirga under U.N. protection.

Since then, Joya has continued to press her case against the former rulers of Afghanistan. Since 1998, Malalai Joya has worked in Afghanistan as a social worker establishing an orphanage and a health clinic and speaking out against the Taliban.

• Malalai Joya, elected representative to the December 2003 Loya Jirga (Grand Council) convention in Kabul to create Afghanistan’s new constitution. Since 1998, Mailali Joya has worked in Afghanistan as a social worker establishing an orphanage and a health clinic and speaking out against the Taliban.