Sangah Siddiqi, a human rights activist, has recently announced that she has been nominated by a political party as a candidate for the Zoetermeer Municipal Council in the Netherlands.
In a statement, Ms. Siddiqi said that her goal is to promote the meaningful role and participation of women in decision-making processes. Zoetermeer is located in the south of the Netherlands and has a population of more than 119,000.
She emphasized that municipal councils in the Netherlands are local decision-making bodies responsible for approving urban policies and regulations, endorsing budgets, overseeing municipal performance, and conducting strategic urban planning, while representing citizens in local decision-making.
The municipal council elections in Zoetermeer are scheduled to be held on (18 March).
Ms. Siddiqi migrated from Afghanistan to the Netherlands 17 years ago and currently works at the Dutch Ministry of Finance.
She has been nominated for the city council elections by the Democrats 66 (D66) party. Democrats 66 is considered the largest political party in the Netherlands, having won the parliamentary elections and expected to introduce its cabinet in the near future.
Ms. Siddiqi says that her commitment to politics—especially regarding the meaningful role and participation of women at decision-making tables—is a serious and conscious choice. She believes that women, drawing on their lived experiences, sense of responsibility, and deep connection with society, can make politics more humane, fairer, and more accountable.
She stressed that this candidacy is not merely a personal step, but an effort to strengthen the voices of women, people with migrant backgrounds, and all citizens who seek a just, open, and inclusive society based on equal opportunities.
Sangah Siddiqi’s nomination comes at a time when the current authorities, following their takeover of Afghanistan, have deprived women and girls of education. In their most recent restriction, they closed the doors of medical institutes to girls and women, despite the nationwide shortage of healthcare personnel across Afghanistan.
These measures by the current authorities have resulted in millions of school-age girls being deprived of education.
In addition, women have been banned from attending sports clubs, restaurants, public bathhouses, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian (mahram), and working in domestic and international non-governmental organizations, as well as even at United Nations offices in Afghanistan.
