Basira Paigham

Basira Paigham (born 1997/1998) is an Afghan LGBTQ-rights activist.

Life and activism In 2015, Paigham began anonymously using social media to connect with other LGBTQ individuals in Afghanistan. In October 2021 she obtained a visa to enter Pakistan, and from there she fled to Ireland. Paigham was recognized by the BBC as one of the 100 most influential women of the year; at the time, she was living in an Irish refugee camp in Dungarvan. While living in the refugee camp, she began working with refugee children to engage them in positive and community-focused activities. Following the BBC's recognition, some parents began preventing their children from meeting with Paigham, "fearing she would teach them about homosexuality", and Paigham faced harassment on social media. In Afghanistan, her family was targeted by the Taliban;

Personal life Paigham is a lesbian and queer. She has said that her family is unsupportive of her sexuality.