Schahina Gambir Women’s hunger strike shows desperate situation in Afghanistan

A German member of parliament, Schahina Gambir, has highlighted the dire situation of women in Afghanistan through the ongoing hunger strike led by Tamana Zaryab Paryani and other activists. Gambir, a member of Alliance 90/The Greens, has been serving in the German parliament since 2021 and was born in Kabul. Gambir stated on X that women activists in Cologne have initiated a hunger strike to draw attention to the plight of women in Afghanistan. This development comes as Paryani returns to the protest area after being discharged from the hospital, where she was admitted due to her deteriorating health. Paryani had to be rushed to the hospital on Saturday after losing consciousness. Another hunger striker, identified as Nezam, has also been moved to the hospital due to worsening health conditions. Paryani and the other activists began their 12-day hunger strike on September 1, aiming to protest the lack of action by the international community regarding the Taliban’s treatment of women in Afghanistan. They are demanding that this treatment be recognized as “gender apartheid.” Additionally, they are calling for a cessation of financial support and official engagement with the Taliban authorities, as well as the immediate release of political prisoners held in the group’s detention centers. The hunger strike, now in its tenth day, has garnered support from numerous individuals and rights groups.