Nasiba Ditbar, an Afghan-Swedish politician and member of Sweden’s Green Party, has announced her candidacy for the country’s parliamentary elections, saying gender equality, democracy, human rights and greater participation of migrants in public life will be among her top priorities.
Running from the Stockholm constituency, Ditbar told Afghanistan International that the Taliban’s policies toward women and girls amount to “gender apartheid,” arguing that the group has excluded half of Afghanistan’s population from public life through sweeping restrictions.
She also stressed the need to expand migrants’ participation in politics, employment and social integration while supporting Sweden’s transition toward a greener economy. According to Ditbar, migrants make significant contributions to Swedish society but remain underrepresented in political decision-making.
Originally from Afghanistan, Ditbar lived in Iran for several years before migrating to Sweden in 2010. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in human rights and has worked extensively on issues related to equality, human rights and migrant participation.
She currently serves as a member of a municipal council, sits on the board of the United Nations Association of Sweden and is active in civil society. She says she hopes to amplify the voices of women, young people and migrant communities in national decision-making.
Drawing on her own experience of migration and discrimination, Ditbar said she deeply understands the suffering of Afghan women and believes silence in the face of women’s rights violations is not an option. She also called on the international community to adopt a human rights-based approach toward the Taliban.
Sweden’s parliamentary elections are scheduled to take place later this September.
