INTERNATIONAL — April 6, 2026
Former Afghan MP Announces End of First Phase of Women's Rights Sit-in in Europe
Bektash Siavash, former Afghan MP, announced the end of the first phase of a five-day sit-in protest before the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg supporting Afghan women's rights. He demanded the EU recognize gender apartheid in Afghanistan, shun normalization with the Taliban, label them terrorists, and warned of escalated action without response.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Hasht-e Subh — 2 min read
Bektash Siavash, a former member of the Afghan parliament, announced the end of the first phase of a sit-in protest in support of Afghan women's rights held in front of the European Parliament in Brussels and Strasbourg.
The demonstration lasted five days and nights, drawing thousands of participants from various locations who urged the European Union to end what they described as double standards on human rights.
Siavash demanded that the EU recognize gender apartheid in Afghanistan, refrain from normalizing ties with the Taliban, and designate the group as a terrorist organization.
He described the EU's silence on Afghanistan as complicity with the Taliban and warned of stronger protests if no adequate response is provided.
The protest aimed to pressure European institutions to take a firmer stance on the restrictions faced by Afghan women under Taliban rule.
Read the original reporting at Hasht-e Subh →
Reliability assessment
Single source with direct, on-record statement from named former MP Bektash Siavash, including concrete details like locations (Brussels, Strasbourg), duration (five days), and specific demands.
The source language reads straight.
Independent web corroboration
A separate web search returned 8 matching reports. A selection:
- KT | Former Afghan MP Protests for Women’s Rights Outside European Parliament — The Kabul Tribune (KT)thekabultribune.com
Baktash Siawash, a former member of Afghanistan’s House of Representatives, has staged a sit-in outside the European Parliament in Brussels to advocate for women’s rights in Afghanistan.
- Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan: Why Is the World Silent?brusselsmorning.com
Baktash Siawash, a politician and former member of the Afghanistan parliament, has travelled from Germany to Brussels to support the people of his country especially women and girls. He held a five-day protest sit-in near the European Union institutions. In an interview with Brussels Morning Magazine, he stated: “The issue of gender discrimination in Afghanistan has become one of the most fundamental and decisive national and international issues. This is no longer merely a social or cultural matter; it has turned into a serious human rights crisis that requires an immediate and responsible response from the international community.
<strong>The sit-in calls for recognition of “gender apartheid” and an end to European engagement with Taliban</strong>. Baktash Siawash, a former lawmaker from Afghanistan, has begun a sit-in camp outside the European Parliament in Brussels, calling on European ...
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Hasht-e Subh
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International — Bektash Siavash, Afghan women's rights, European Union, Taliban, Brussels
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