From Extremism to Equality for Women in Afghanistan: Discussing the multi-dimensional impact of Taliban’s policies on women in Afghanistan and beyond
On Monday 18 May 2026, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Women Peace and Security, on collaboration with FARAGEER held a parliamentary roundtable ‘From Extremism to Equality for Women in Afghanistan: Discussing the multi-dimensional impact of Taliban’s policies on women in Afghanistan and beyond’.
Chaired by Baroness Hodgson of Abinger, the event heard from Nargis Nehan, Former Minister of Mines & Petroleum & Founder of FARAGEER; Dr. Orzala Nemat, Founding Director of Development Research Group; Dr. Ziba Mir-Hossseini, Scholar Specialized in Islamic Law, Gender and Development; and Ms. Masooma Khawari, Former Minister of Communication.
Opening the session, Baroness Hodgson stated the urgency and importance of discussing the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan. This was reiterated by speakers who highlighted the dire situation in the country and the urgent need for coordinated action to restore the rights of Afghan women.
Findings from recent research by FARAGEER, conducted by consulting 800+ women inside Afghanistan across 20 provinces we presented. Findings showed how the Taliban have used the suppression of women’s rights as a tool to control Afghan society, manipulating religious ideology and feminist theory to mobilise support for the system of Gender Apartheid.
This system of Gender Apartheid and religious extremism has socio-political and humanitarian implications on Afghan society as a whole. Speakers shared how Taliban control is turning men against women, building an atmosphere of fear, and rising domestic tension in the country.
It was shared that the Taliban has silenced the voices of Afghan people with violence. Speakers underlined that inaction by the international community, alongside continued engagement with the Taliban has emboldened the group who see no consequences as a result of its actions and rights violations.
One speaker noted that while the Taliban presents its policies or stance as the only Islamic view, this ignores the fact that there is no “one” Islamic position on women’s rights. It was further noted that Islamic law has always been shaped by human interpretation and by the societies in which they developed. What the Taliban is doing is taking up one selective patriarchal interpretation of Islam and using that to justify a system of Gender Apartheid.
It was noted that, because gender-based subjugation is an intrinsic part of Taliban’s governance structure, dismantling the former will lead to the regime’s collapse. It was argued that Islamic jurisprudence has tools to challenge the Taliban’s interpretation and resistance to the regime can be mobilized through religion.
The session closed with a collective call to action on principled engagement, codification of Gender Apartheid as a Crime Against Humanity and calling on the UK Government, alongside other states, to consult Afghan civil society on a regular basis.