Abdul Hakim Hashemi Hamidi

Hashemi is an award-winning writer, playwright and theatre director from Afghanistan. His written work ranges from short stories, plays and screenplays to social, cultural and political articles published on the news website The Republic of Silence and his personal blog. Recent articles have focused on the influence of neighbouring countries such as Iran on Afghanistan’s religious and cultural landscape. In 2011, Hashemi’s article ‘Role of the Media in Promoting Human Rights’ won first prize at a seminar organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Although he has written a number of short stories, publishers in the country have avoided publishing his works.

Hamidi lived in constant danger of attack at the hands of the Taliban and other fundamentalist forces as a result of his artistic work to promote social and cultural rights.

Hamidi started his human rights activities when he was living in Iran as a refugee. Working for Afghan refugees’ rights, he was arrested by the police and jailed. After returning to Afghanistan
in 2004, he continued the activities or human rights, especially for women’s and children’s rights as a human rights defender. In consultation with a number of colleagues he established Simorgh
Film Association of Culture and Art (SFACA) in Herat province. For almost 10 years, he has been involved in social development programmes at Simorgh Film Association in Herat, Kabul, Bamiyan
and Kunduz. As a general director and artistic director of SFACA, he has produced short and long films; TV serials with human rights focus, specifically addressing women’s rights. Hamidi has written articles for websites, newspapers and social media outlets in Afghanistan for public awareness.

Graduated from Herat University in Afghanistan, majoring in history, since arriving in Paris City of Refuge in May 2015,  Hamidi is completing a Master in Human Rights and Humanitarian Action at Sciences Po at Paris School of International Affairs.