Former Afghan MP Stages Sit-in at European Parliament Calling for 'Gender Apartheid' Recognition
BRUSSELS — Bektash Siavash, a former member of Afghanistan's House of Representatives, set up a protest tent in front of the European Parliament in Brussels on April 1, 2026.
Siavash posted on social media on Wednesday, corresponding to 12 Hamal in the Afghan calendar, announcing the sit-in. He called for international recognition of "gender apartheid" in Afghanistan and urged the European Union to cease diplomatic engagement with the Taliban.
Siavash stated that more than 1,600 days have passed since Afghan women and girls were deprived of education and work. He described the protest as the beginning of a long advocacy process and announced plans to travel to various European cities to continue his campaign.
United Nations experts have described the Taliban's policies toward women as potential "crimes against humanity" and suggested they may constitute "gender apartheid."
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