Human Rights Activist
Mehra Saghari
Featured in Acadimic Conference
Current Position
Human Rights Activist focusing on Women’s Rights and LGBTQ+ Rights
Workplace
Independent Human Rights Activist / Sweden
Speaker Overview
Explore the background, past roles, and publications connected to Mehra Saghari.
About Mehra Saghari
Mehra Saghari is a transgender woman and prominent human rights activist from Afghanistan. She grew up in a society where discussions around gender identity and sexual orientation were nearly impossible, and LGBTQ+ individuals faced severe risks, discrimination, and violence. After years of living in silence under an imposed identity, she made the courageous decision to openly embrace her true identity within the framework of media activism.
Due to serious threats and challenges, she was forced to leave Afghanistan and seek asylum in Sweden. Since then, she has actively continued her advocacy work, focusing on women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights. Her efforts include writing articles, conducting interviews, working with investigative media, organizing and participating in protests, and building networks among dispersed queer individuals.
She is a strong voice for those living under what she defines as “gender apartheid” in Afghanistan, with a primary focus on raising awareness about the conditions of women and LGBTQ+ communities.
Mehra Saghari has undertaken two hunger strikes advocating for the recognition of gender apartheid—the first lasting 11 days and the second 9 days. She also organized a 150-day protest tent in Malmö, Sweden, dedicated to the same cause.
Additionally, she has participated in and led numerous demonstrations advocating for justice for women and LGBTQ+ individuals both in Afghanistan and globally. In collaboration with a coalition of 160 Afghan civil society organizations, she contributed to the preparation of a statistical report analyzing the situation of 700 Afghan LGBTQ+ individuals.
She has also organized and led a major conference on combating gender and sexual discrimination, supported financially by the Berlin Municipality.
Due to serious threats and challenges, she was forced to leave Afghanistan and seek asylum in Sweden. Since then, she has actively continued her advocacy work, focusing on women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights. Her efforts include writing articles, conducting interviews, working with investigative media, organizing and participating in protests, and building networks among dispersed queer individuals.
She is a strong voice for those living under what she defines as “gender apartheid” in Afghanistan, with a primary focus on raising awareness about the conditions of women and LGBTQ+ communities.
Mehra Saghari has undertaken two hunger strikes advocating for the recognition of gender apartheid—the first lasting 11 days and the second 9 days. She also organized a 150-day protest tent in Malmö, Sweden, dedicated to the same cause.
Additionally, she has participated in and led numerous demonstrations advocating for justice for women and LGBTQ+ individuals both in Afghanistan and globally. In collaboration with a coalition of 160 Afghan civil society organizations, she contributed to the preparation of a statistical report analyzing the situation of 700 Afghan LGBTQ+ individuals.
She has also organized and led a major conference on combating gender and sexual discrimination, supported financially by the Berlin Municipality.
Past Positions
Media Activist and Journalist (Afghanistan)
Organizer and Participant in International Human Rights Protests and Movements
Research Contributor in collaboration with Afghan civil society networks (including a coalition of 160 organizations)
Organizer and Participant in International Human Rights Protests and Movements
Research Contributor in collaboration with Afghan civil society networks (including a coalition of 160 organizations)
Gender Apartheid and the Human Rights Crisis in Afghanistan
Analysis of systemic gender-based discrimination in Afghanistan, focusing on the concept of gender apartheid, the condition of women and LGBTQ+ individuals, and international responsibilities in addressing human rights violations.