Personal background: Dr. Jafar Mahdawi, son of Qurban, was born in 1978 in the Lal Wa Sar Jangal district of Ghor province. His family immigrated to Iran when he was an infant. He is married with two children. Mahdawi is interested in reading; he speaks Dari and English.

Education: Mawdawi finished his primary and secondary education in Mashhad High School, Iran in 1997. He got his bachelor’s degree in Political Sociology in 1999. He holds a master’s degree in Political Thought from Tehran University, Iran. Most recently, Mahdawi completed his PhD in Political Sociology in 2005 at Tehran University.

Civil society/NGO connections: Mahdawi was involved in political and cultural activities while abroad. He served as founder, advisor and lecturer at the Gharjestan Private Institute of Higher Education; he also held the role of Editor-in-Chief and owner of the “Sorosh Millat” daily newspaper. He has advised and participated in the policy-making council of “Rah-e-Farda” Radio and Television station.

Previous occupation: From 2006-2008, Mahdawi served as an advisor in the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs. In 2007, he lectured at Kabul University; in 2008, he worked as a senior expert in human rights at the Ministry of Education.

Other information: Mahdawi has been affiliated with the “Reformist” group in parliament.42