Five Afghan Representatives Elected to France’s Exile Parliament

In the recent elections for France’s Exile Parliament, five Afghan representatives — including three women and two men — were elected to this civic institution. Out of seven Afghan candidates, these individuals succeeded in securing representation for the Afghan diaspora in the parliament.

The elected Afghan members are Sayara Rahmani, Shakiba Dawood, Fatemeh Haidari, Rohullah Sediqullah, and Enamullah Samoon.

Sayara Rahmani, a former BBC journalist and civil activist who has been living in France since 2016, topped the list of Afghan representatives after receiving the majority of votes. Shakiba Dawood, an Afghan artist based in Paris since 2009, emphasized the importance of defending the rights of women, refugees, and marginalized minorities. Fatemeh Haidari, also known for her activism in the fields of women’s rights and refugee support, was elected to the parliament as well.

In addition to the Afghan representatives, this round of elections also featured candidates from Iran, Syria, Russia, Palestine, Turkey, Tunisia, Algeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and several other countries.

Voting was held online, and the final results were announced on July 19. The Exile Parliament in France seeks to amplify the voices of refugees and political exiles from around the world within French public and political discourse.