GENEVA — Zholia Parsi, a prominent Afghan human rights activist, has received the 2024 Martin Ennals Award for her extraordinary commitment to advancing human rights in Afghanistan.
The award, announced on the Martin Ennals Foundation website, honors Parsi alongside Tajik human rights defender Manuchehr Kholiqnazar. Both recipients will be formally recognized at a ceremony in Geneva on November 21, 2024.
The foundation highlighted the extraordinary bravery of this year’s laureates in defending human rights in highly oppressive environments.
“Zholia Parsi of Afghanistan and Manuchehr Kholiqnazar of Tajikistan have shown remarkable courage and determination to ensure human rights in the face of intense repression,” the announcement read.
Hans Thoolen, chair of the Martin Ennals Award jury, emphasized the global significance of their work. “We are proud to honor these exceptional winners. They have paid a heavy price for justice and equality in Afghanistan and Tajikistan. The international community must support their efforts rather than focus solely on geopolitical conflicts,” Thoolen said.
Parsi’s advocacy
Parsi, a leading voice for women’s rights in Afghanistan, gained prominence for her activism following the Taliban’s return to power. After losing her job under Taliban-imposed restrictions and witnessing her daughters barred from education, she became a vocal critic of policies targeting women’s freedoms and fundamental rights.
Her activism led to her arrest by the Taliban in September 2023. She was detained for nearly three months before being released in December of the same year.
Manuchehr Kholiqnazar’s struggle
Kholiqnazar, a human rights lawyer from Tajikistan’s autonomous Badakhshan region, has also faced severe consequences for his advocacy. In what has been widely criticized as an unfair trial, he was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his human rights work.
Prestigious recognition
The Martin Ennals Award is conferred annually by a jury comprising organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the International Federation for Human Rights. The award seeks to honor individuals who have made significant sacrifices to advance human rights globally.
