Basira Paigham: I'm living in Ireland since 2021, October.
Mairead Kenny: OK. You're from Afghanistan?
Basira Paigham: Yes, I'm from Afghanistan.
Mairead Kenny: Welcome. Did you move to Ireland to study or to work?
Basira Paigham: Unfortunately, when the Taliban came, everything collapsed. They start persecution of women activists and LGBT people.
Mairead Kenny: Mairead Kenny here. Politics and More podcast. I'm here in Dublin in Buswells hotel with Basira (Pagham).
Basira Paigham: Basira Paigham
Mairead Kenny: Hi Basira. Welcome.
Basira Paigham: Thank you Mairead for your invitation.
Mairead Kenny: Your welcome. This morning (25-06-2026) I came to Dublin, I was walking down the street, When I walked up, I heard the singing outside the Dail (Irish Parliament). What were you singing?
Basira Paigham: We sang Afghan song. We did a song about Afghanistan women resiliency, about our voice, our hope that we will not stop fighting for what we deserve, our equal rights. Women's rights are human rights, LGBT rights are human rights, and human rights are universal rights.
Mairead Kenny: Can you tell me what that protest was about?
Basira Paigham: Yes, of course. Afghanistan women and Afghanistan LGBT+ protested against the Taliban rules, laws that legalize girls’ marriage, when they are 9 years old.
Also EU in Brussels accepting Taliban representatives. That's why we protested here to raise the voice of Afghanistan women, Afghanistan girls, Afghanistan LGBT+.
[1] Mairead Kenny, Politics & More podcast at https://politicsmore.podview.com/
[2] Basira Paigham is an Afghan LGBTQ-rights activist. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basira_Paigham
Basira Paigham is an Afghan LGBTQ+ and gender-equality activist who was named one of the BBC's 100 Women in 2021. Following the Taliban takeover in 2021, she sought refuge in Ireland, where she has continued her advocacy, research, and public speaking. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Key Details and Activism:
· Background: Paigham is a queer researcher who has long advocated for LGBTQ+ rights, focusing her efforts on gender norms and the dignity of the LBQ+ and transgender communities in Afghanistan.
· Awards & Recognition: She was selected for the BBC 100 Women 2021 list in recognition of her vital activism despite the dangers she faced in Afghanistan.
· Current Life: Based in Ireland, she has pursued an M.A. in International Development at Maynooth University. She actively consults, conducts research, and advocates alongside organizations like OutRight International and Rainbow Afghanistan to protect and support marginalized Afghan populations globally.
Basira Paigham, Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/basira_paighamm/
Rainbow Afhanistan at https://www.instagram.com/rainbowafghanistan/
1. Inspiring Dreams by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon
Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
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