Basira Paigham
Basira Paigham (born 1997/1998)[1] is an Afghan LGBT-rights activist.
Early life[edit]
Paigham originates from Samagan Province.[2]
Activism[edit]
In 2015, Paigham began anonymously using social media to connect with other LGBT individuals.[1] In 2016, she created a Facebook group specifically for LGBT Afghans.[1] In 2018, Paigham and some of her fellow activists organized community meet-ups in Kabul, as well as organizing mutual aid for fellow LGBT Afghans.[1] During this time, Paigham also spoke with international groups and journalists under a pseudonym about her life as an LGBT person living in Afghanistan.[1] She also gained some notability domestically as a women's rights activist.[1]
In 2020, Paigham was witness to a Taliban attack on the National Directorate of Security office in Samagan.[2]
In 2021, in the days after the Taliban claimed power, Paigham began receiving threatening phone calls from unknown numbers, and her apartment was searched.[3] In October 2021 she obtained a visa to enter Pakistan, and from there she fled to Ireland.[4] Paigham was recognized by the BBC as one of the 100 most influential women of the year; at the time, she was living in an Irish refugee camp.[1][4][5]
Paigham was a keynote speaker at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom's 2022 Born With Pride Conference. In 2023, she was made a UN Rights and Religion Fellow of Outright International.[6]
Personal life[edit]
Paigham is a lesbian.[1] She has said that her family is unsupportive of her sexuality.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Finding Identity and Fighting for Change: Basira's Journey as an Afghan LGBTQ+ Activist". Nimrokh. 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2023-09-09.
- ^ a b Noori, Hikmat (2021-03-17). "In Afghanistan's peace talks, those with the most to lose are least represented". The National. Retrieved 2023-09-09.
- ^ Sultan, Iman (2022-08-16). "Afghan women reflect on one-year anniversary of Taliban rule". The New Arab. Retrieved 2023-09-09.
- ^ a b Lee, Nicole (2022-11-07). "Dublin Lesbian Line speaks to Afghani LGBTQ+ activist Basira Paigham in new podcast episode". GCN. Retrieved 2023-09-09.
- ^ "BBC 100 Women 2021: Who is on the list this year?". BBC News. 2021-12-07. Retrieved 2023-09-09.
- ^ "Outright Welcomes its 2023 UN Rights and Religion Fellows". Outright International. 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2023-09-09.