The LGBTQ+ community (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) in Afghanistan has faced widespread discrimination, stigmatization, and violence from both the government and society for many years. This violence was particularly severe during the first Taliban regime, which claimed the lives of many LGBTQ+ individuals. However, the twenty years of democratic rule in Afghanistan had rekindled hopes for a more inclusive society and raised the hopes of the LGBTQ+ community for regaining their lost rights. However, the fall of the country back to the Taliban fighters and their return to power in August 2021 plunged the LGBTQ+ community, activists, defenders of their rights, and all those fighting for equal rights into a state of shock. Nevertheless, since then, Afghan LGBTQ+ activists have not given up and have continued to protest in various forms against the human rights violations of LGBTQ+ individuals and the brutality and hostility of the Taliban forces towards this marginalized group.

In Afghanistan's western neighbor, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the situation for the LGBTQ+ community is no better than in Afghanistan. With the 1979 revolution and the overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy, radical Islamists seized power and sought to implement Islamic law without exception. Since then, the LGBTQ+ community has been one of the primary victims of the implementation of Sharia law in Iran, and their rights have been violated in all aspects of their lives. The extent of the human rights violations against LGBTQ+ individuals becomes clear when one realizes that Iran is one of the few countries in the world where same-sex relationships are criminalized and can be punished by imprisonment and flogging, even death. Therefore, according to Articles 233 to 241 of the Islamic Penal Code, and taking into account the gender of the accused and the nature and repetition of the sexual act, judges impose punishments on LGBTQ+ individuals. These inhumane and unjust sentences are among the reasons that have brought together Iranian LGBTQ+ rights activists to protest these inhumane sentences and demand an end to them.

June is Pride Month in the LGBTQ+ community's calendar. This month, the LGBTQ+ community celebrates the diversity of sexual orientations and gender identities and honors the years of struggle for equality and justice. On this occasion, the Afghanistan Strategic Studies Institute, to celebrate this month, has brought together four Afghan and Iranian LGBTQ+ rights activists to provide the latest information on the LGBTQ+ community in Afghanistan, Iran, and the LGBTQ+ refugee community. In this session, Artemis Akbari, one of the founders and directors of the Afghan LGBTQ+ organization "Awlo," host and producer of the Rainbow Radio and LGBTQ+ rights activist Mehra Baraki and Aylar Rezaee, two LGBTQ+ rights activists representing the Afghan queer community, and Ali Aarifi, LGBTQ+ refugee and queer rights activist, host and producer of the Rainbow Radio and one of the founders and directors of the Afghan LGBTQ+ organization "Awlo," along with Sohrab, a gay man representing the Iranian queer community, were present and offered their views, some of which are discussed below.

At the beginning of this meeting, Mohra Barakzai expressed their deep concern about the situation of LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender people, and criticized the neglect and lack of attention from other human rights activists and the Afghan civil society's silence on the blatant violations of the human rights of queer people. Mohra called for more attention to this issue.

Mohra also criticized the media, saying that for most Afghan media, queer people are not a priority, and they simply ignore the news of flogging, torture, and murder of LGBTQ+ people in the provinces and districts of Afghanistan. This LGBTQ+ activist, who has 150 days of sit-ins and 11 days of hunger strikes in their human rights activism, called on the international community to recognize gender apartheid in Afghanistan and avoid deals and compromises with the Taliban. Mohra called on all those who hear their voice not to remain indifferent to the situation of LGBTQ+ people in Afghanistan and to reflect on their concerns and problems in any way possible.

Aylar Rezaee, an LGBTQ+ community activist, then spoke about the issue of lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) women and girls, emphasizing the importance of addressing the situation of people with intersecting identities. Aylar described Afghanistan as a diverse society of different ethnicities, religions, cultures, and groups and that the demands of each should be addressed equally. Aylar pointed out that under the Taliban regime, many people are punished and persecuted for their gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, and religious beliefs that are not Islam. This means that their multiple identities have made them targets of double violence and oppression by the Taliban forces.

Aylar compared the situation of lesbian women living in small and remote districts and villages with the situation of same-sex, heterosexual women living in the center. Aylar said that although both of these women are victims of Taliban violence, the severity of the oppression of heterosexual women goes with the situation. A lesbian woman whose sexual orientation does not fit with the standard norms of Afghan society is not the same. A lesbian woman is exposed to more violence due to having double identities.

Aylar also revealed the violence that LBTQ women face daily in Afghanistan, such as the fact that they are not allowed to leave the house without a mahram, such as a father, brother, and husband, and this creates restrictions and challenges. It has been made for them in times of danger or emergency exit from home.

Continuing the webinar, moderator Artemis Akbari asked Sohrab, an Iranian gay man, to share his lived experiences with the audience. Sohrab pointed out that Iran's patriarchal society does not easily allow LGBTQ+ individuals to recognize and accept themselves, which is why LGBTQ+ individuals face difficulties in identifying their own identities and even try to hide or suppress them. He emphasized that in the past, this issue was much more complicated because access to accurate information was limited and queer individuals were less able to gain a clear understanding of their sexual orientation and gender identity. Sohrab mentioned following predetermined frameworks and structures or being forced into marriage or sexual acts as consequences of this lack of awareness in the past.

In conclusion, Ali Arefi, one of the directors and founders of the Afghan LGBTQ+ organization and the host and producer of Rainbow Radio, discussed the precarious situation of Iranian and Afghan queer refugees in neighboring countries such as Turkey and expressed their concern about the plight of LGBTQ+ individuals in these countries. Ali pointed to the ongoing political, social, and economic insecurity in Turkey that has made life in Turkey unbearable for LGBTQ+ refugees. Ali cited the negative view of Turkish society towards individuals with different sexual orientations and gender identities, the lack of work permits, runaway inflation, the lack of health insurance, and arbitrary and undocumented arrests and deportations of refugees despite having "Skimlinks" or residence permits, as some of the reasons that have narrowed the scope for refugees. Ali linked the role of political parties and groups in Turkey to the current situation of refugees. Ali added that Turkish parties use the refugee card for their political purposes and enter election campaigns to deport and prevent refugees from entering or reducing their rights and benefits.

Ali also pointed to the role of Turkish religious institutions such as "Nhad Diyant" in inciting the spiritual community of Turkey against LGBTQ people. Ali added that Diyant Institute incites mosque imams to make them speak against the LGBT community in mosques. And thus make the situation worse for LGBT people, especially LGBT asylum seekers. Ali Arefi said that the restrictions, along with the violation of the human rights of the asylum seekers, have caused them to think of leaving Turkey and reaching safe European countries at any cost.

Mentioning the example of a gay refugee man who was interviewed on RanginKaman Radio, Ali talked about the dangers of smuggling routes to reach Europe. Ali emphasized that LGBT refugees face many risks on this route, such as physical and sexual violence. They face violent encounters and repression by the police and border security forces, abuse by human traffickers, and the risk of drowning in the Mediterranean Sea. In the following, Ali Arefi pointed out that even if LGBT asylum seekers can reach European countries, there is still no guarantee that they will fully achieve their rights. Ali described the situation in Europe these days as worrying and attributed it to the emergence of anti-immigrant and anti-refugee parties and governments.

In the end, Artemis Akbari spoke about the latest situation of LGBT people in Afghanistan. They mentioned the public flogging against LGBTQ people and also mentioned the latest report of the Elo organization. According to this report, the Taliban uses sexual violence and rape as a tool to suppress LGBT people.

Finally, it should be emphasized again that the LGBTQ community in Afghanistan and Iran faces discrimination, violence, and human rights violations. In Afghanistan, with the return of the Taliban, the situation of this community has worsened, and LGBTQ people are facing serious risks. In Iran, the strict implementation of Islamic laws has caused severe repression of these people, and in neighboring countries such as Turkey, the conditions of Afghan and Iranian LGBTQ refugees are worrying. However, civil society and LGBT rights activists continue to fight and raise awareness. Still, the international community must pay more attention to the rights and security of LGBT people.