Nazifa Haqpal is a former Afghan diplomat, journalist, and PhD candidate in Law at SOAS University of London. She has extensive expertise in human rights, Islamic and customary law, and gender issues, with a particular focus on Afghanistan and Pakistan. Her expertise is informed by her doctoral research and extensive experience preparing and assessing Country of Origin (COI) reports and documentation. She is also an Associate Member (Practising Category) of the Academy of Experts, specialising as a Country-of-Origin Expert.
Nazifa Haqpal is a British-Afghan expert witness, former diplomat, journalist, and researcher specialising in the socio-political affairs of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran, with particular expertise in Islamic law, tribal and community dynamics, international human rights, and forced migration. She is a PhD candidate in Law at SOAS University of London.
Nazifa brings over 15 years of combined academic, professional, and lived experience of the region to her expert practice. Her research focuses on public international law, international human rights law, international relations, immigration and asylum law, and legal pluralism. She has extensive experience producing independent country expert reports for immigration and asylum proceedings, having prepared approximately 200 expert reports. Her opinions are objective, impartial, and evidence-based, drawing on rigorous academic research, field experience, and continuous monitoring of political, legal, and human rights developments in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.
As an Afghan national who has lived, studied, and worked across the region, and who maintains strong ties with Afghan and wider diaspora communities in the United Kingdom, Nazifa occupies a distinctive position among country experts. She shares the languages, culture, religious traditions, and social frameworks of the communities about which she writes. This enables her to provide insights that extend beyond conventional desk-based research. Individuals from Afghanistan and neighbouring countries communicate openly with her, regularly sharing first-hand information and updates on conditions on the ground, providing nuanced perspectives that are often inaccessible to external observers.
Alongside her expert witness practice, Nazifa works in London as a journalist and political analyst with Afghanistan International and Iran International. She is a member of Amnesty International's Feminist Network and serves as a Board Member of Afghanistan Accountability Watch.
Professional Work Experience
Multimedia Journalist and Political Analyst
Volant Media (appearing on Afghanistan International TV and Iran International TV) | Ongoing
Provides political analysis and commentary on current affairs relating to Afghanistan, Iran, and the wider region. Regularly appears on Afghanistan International TV and Iran International TV, analysing political developments, regime changes, governance, human rights, regional security, and the evolving socio-political dynamics of Afghanistan, Iran, and neighbouring countries.
Director and Lead Expert Witness
Aspire Expert Research and Consultancy | 2020 – Present
Website: https://aspireconsultancy.uk/about-us/
Leads an independent consultancy specialising in country expert evidence, research, and policy analysis relating to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.
Lead a multidisciplinary team delivering expert research and consultancy services on Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran. Conduct qualitative research and analyse political, legal, social, and human rights developments, critically evaluating Country of Origin Information (COI), Home Office CPINs, and other evidence. Prepare independent expert witness reports for immigration, asylum, nationality, family, and civil proceedings, supported by detailed client interviews and documentary analysis. Build and maintain professional relationships with legal practitioners and provide evidence-based research and policy advice to legal, governmental, and international organisations.
Legal Adviser
West London Equality Centre (WLEC) | 2017 – 2022
Provided legal advice and advocacy to individuals experiencing human rights violations, with a focus on immigration, housing, welfare, discrimination, and hate crime. Advised clients, assessed potential human rights breaches, liaised with legal professionals and public authorities, conducted legal and policy research, and delivered workshops on human rights, equality law, and access to justice.
Diplomat / Head of Consulate Department
Embassy of Afghanistan, London | 2011 – 2014
Managed the Embassy's Consular Department and led its Women's Rights Desk, working with government departments, civil society organisations, and international partners to advance women's rights and strengthen diplomatic engagement. Built strategic relationships with UK Government officials, Members of Parliament, the Afghan diaspora, and NGOs; advocated internationally for women's rights and girls' education; managed the Embassy's communications and public engagement; organised high-level conferences and stakeholder events; co-founded the Afghan Women's Support Forum (AWSF); and led departmental staff to ensure effective service delivery and operations.
Civil Servant
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan | 2009 – 2011
Served in the Ministry's Fifth (Political) Department, overseeing the United States Desk, before joining the Spokesperson's Office as Information and Publications Officer. Coordinated diplomatic engagement with U.S. officials in Kabul, conducted research on international affairs and Afghan foreign policy, produced policy publications, developed relationships with national and international media, and coordinated press conferences and strategic communications.
Human Rights Assistant
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), Kabul | 2008 – 2009
Supported the Human Rights Unit in monitoring and documenting human rights violations, with a particular focus on violence against women. Conducted field investigations and interviews, gathered evidence for UN human rights reporting, maintained case databases, liaised with national and international stakeholders, and delivered human rights outreach and awareness activities.
Women's Rights Officer
ActionAid Afghanistan, Kabul | 2007 – 2008
Supported programmes promoting women's rights, gender equality, and girls' education across Afghanistan. Conducted legal and policy analysis, carried out field research on women's empowerment initiatives, collaborated with government ministries on gender programmes, and prepared narrative and financial reports for donor-funded projects.
Qualifications & Professional Development
Academic Qualifications
- PhD — in Law, SOAS University of London expected 2027
- MA — International Security and Diplomacy, University of East Anglia
- BA — Law and Political Science, Kabul University
Areas of Expertise
Nazifa Haqpal accepts instructions in relation to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran across immigration, asylum, nationality, family, civil, and human rights proceedings. Her principal areas of expertise include:
- Country of Origin Information (COI): Political, legal, security, humanitarian, and socio-economic conditions; governance; human rights; internal relocation; state protection; documentation; prison conditions; healthcare and mental health services; and risk on return.
- Asylum and Refugee Law: Country conditions, credibility assessments, political opinion, religion, ethnicity, gender-based persecution, Westernisation, honour-based violence, blood feuds, forced marriage, trafficking, internal relocation, and refugee protection.
- Islamic Law and Customary Justice: Sharia law, family and personal status law, marriage, divorce, child custody, inheritance, women's rights, customary legal systems, tribal governance, jirgas, shuras, dispute resolution, honour-based practices, and blood feuds.
- Human Rights and Gender: International human rights law, gender persecution, gender apartheid, violence against women and girls, freedom of religion or belief, minority rights, freedom of expression, arbitrary detention, torture, access to justice, and transitional justice.
- Political and Socio-Legal Analysis: Governance, constitutional and legal developments, political movements, religious groups, ethnic communities, tribal dynamics, social norms, community structures, and the implementation of law in practice.
- Language and Nationality Assessment (LADO): Linguistic analysis of Dari, Pashto, Persian (Farsi), and Urdu; regional dialects and accents; nationality and place-of-origin assessments; and contextual evaluation of Afghan identity and civil documentation.
Nazifa Haqpal is not affiliated with any organisation that could affect his objectivity as an expert witness. She maintains a clear separation between her casework and her expert reporting, with no conflict of interest.
Expertise
Nazifa Haqpal accepts instructions on matters involving nationals from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, with particular depth in:
- Tribal structures, kinship networks, and their role in social governance and dispute resolution
- Islamic law (Shari'a) in practice — including its application in family, civil, and community matters
- The social authority of religious scholars and institutions across different Arab societies
- Blood feud traditions — their origins, obligations, and contemporary relevance
- Honour-based social systems: the cultural logic, communal enforcement, and consequences for individuals
- Conversion, apostasy, and the social, familial, and legal consequences for those who leave their religion
- Religious minorities — Christians, Yazidis, Amazigh communities, and others — and their conditions in different countries
- Community attitudes towards gender, sexuality, and social nonconformity
Family Law & Personal Status
- Islamic marriage contracts, mahr (dowry), divorce, alimony, and child custody under different Arab legal systems
- Forced and underage marriage — social pressures, family dynamics, and the limits of legal protection
- Women's rights within Islamic jurisprudence and local customary practice
- Inheritance law — Islamic frameworks and their application across jurisdictions
- Domestic violence, gender-based violence, and the social and institutional responses to them
- Honour killing — cultural context, community dynamics, and risk assessment
Country of Origin & Asylum Matters
- Country of origin reports for asylum and refugee proceedings
- Internal relocation assessments — the practical reality of safety within country
- Risk-on-return analysis — including for those perceived to have been 'Westernised'
- Human rights conditions — including detention, torture, impunity, and access to justice
- Prison conditions and treatment of those in detention
- Availability of mental health, healthcare, and social welfare services
- Conditions for LGBT+ individuals in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran countries — social, familial, and legal risk
- Trafficking, forced labour, and modern slavery in the Arab world
Nationality Assessment and Linguistic Analysis
- Language Analysis for the Determination of Origin (LADO) — Pashto, Farsi and Dari accents, dialects, and regional linguistic markers of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran
- Nationality assessment through linguistic analysis — distinguishing between national and regional particularly of Afghan Sikh Community
- Assessment Afghanistan documents for contextual authenticity
Availability
- Nazifa Haqpal is available to accept instructions promptly and maintains reliable turnaround times. She welcomes enquiries from solicitors, barristers, and legal teams on all matters within his areas of expertise.
PUBLICATIONS
- Published book chapter: "Between Justice and Control: Punishment and Sharia Law under the Taliban: Women, Violence and Law: A Critical Analysis of Women's Rights in Afghanistan", in Mapping Futures for Afghanistan, 1st Edition (edited by Arif Saba & Abbas Fara).
- Published article: "The Afghan Women's Movement and Gender Apartheid: Shifting the Trajectory of International Human Rights Law." Available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02634937.2025.2514553
- Published article: "The Taliban Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan Is Part Of—Not Separate From—Its Terrorist Links." Just Security. Available at: https://www.justsecurity.org/87634/the-talibans-gender-apartheid-policies-support-radicalization/
- Published article: "The Taliban Gender Persecution in Afghanistan Is a Challenge to the World." Available at: https://thediplomat.com/2023/08/the-talibans-gender-prosecution-in-afghanistan-is-a-challenge-to-the-world/
- Published article: "Centering Human Rights at the Heart of Diplomatic Efforts in Intra-Afghan Dialogue."Available at: https://thediplomat.com/2023/12/centering-human-rights-at-the-heart-of-diplomatic-efforts-for-intra-afghan-dialogue/
- Extensively researched issues relating to cultural norms, tribal dynamics, and blood feuds in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
- The Impact of Legal Pluralism on the Role and Status of Afghanistan's Judiciary (2001–2020).
- How an Unbiased and Well-Functioning Justice System Can Promote Peace in Afghanistan?
- Afghanistan's Contemporary Foreign Policy and Cultural Diplomacy: Engaging the Diaspora Community.
- Securing Women's Human Rights through Legal Reform: A Case Study of Violence Against Women Initiatives in Post-2001 Afghanistan.
Academic Research and Publications
- Upcoming publication: "From Oppression to Isolation: The Taliban's Gender Apartheid Policies and Their Diplomatic Recognition."
- Upcoming publication: "Silencing a Generation: The Suppression of Freedom of Expression in Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan."
PRESENTATIONS AND ACADEMIC CONFERENCES
- From Oppression to Isolation: The Taliban's Gender Apartheid Policies and Their Diplomatic Recognition– Stanford University.
- Silencing a Generation: The Suppression of Freedom of Expression in Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan – University of Pittsburgh.
- Gender Apartheid, Transformative Justice, and the Politics of Women's Rights in Afghanistan – University of Oxford.
- Women, Violence and Law in Afghanistan: Legal Reform and Continuities in Times of Armed Conflict and Liberal Peacebuilding (2001–2021) – Centre for Colonialism, Empire and International Law, SOAS University of London.
- Feminist Leadership in Disarmament – Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy, SOAS University of London.
- The Future of Women, Peace, and Security in Afghanistan – LSE Centre for Women, Peace and Security.
- Prospects for Women's and Human Rights under the Taliban – The Democracy Forum.
- Afghanistan: Civilians, Refugees and Security – UK Houses of Parliament Webinar.
Selected Conference Presentations and Invited Talks
- October 2025 – Presented the research paper "Silencing a Generation: The Suppression of Freedom of Expression in Taliban-Controlled Afghanistan" at the University of Pittsburgh.
- August 2025 – Delivered a keynote speech at the LSE Centre for Women, Peace and Security on the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for the Taliban leader for committing gender persecution as a crime against humanity.
- April 2025 – Presented the research paper "From Oppression to Isolation: The Taliban's Gender Apartheid Policies and Their Diplomatic Recognition" at Stanford University.
- October 2024 – Presented the research paper "Taliban Justice Practices and Women's Access to Justice" at American University, Washington, D.C.
- September 2024 – Delivered a keynote speech at the conference "Future of Youth and Freedom of Expression in Afghanistan" at the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP).
- August 2024 – Presented the research paper "Taliban Justice Practices and Women's Access to Justice" at the Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI), Bergen, Norway.
- June 2024 – Moderated the side event "A Conversation with Afghan Women Human Rights Defenders "during the United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva.
- June 2024 – Participated as a panellist in "Empowering Afghan Women Entrepreneurs" at the LSE Centre for Women, Peace and Security.
- April 2024 – Presented on Afghanistan's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations Human Rights Council, Geneva.
- December 2023 – Participated as a panellist in the discussion "Migration Flows in Afghanistan after the Taliban Takeover" at the Migration Initiative Centre, Geneva.
- November 2023 – Presented the paper "Transformative Justice in Afghanistan" at the conference "Bringing Afghanistan to Scale" at the University of Oxford.
- 2022 – Speaker at the webinar "The Future of Women, Peace, and Security in Afghanistan" hosted by the LSE Centre for Women, Peace and Security. Also participated as a speaker at the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy, SOAS University of London, on "Feminist Leadership in Disarmament."
- 2021 – Speaker at a webinar hosted by The Democracy Forum on "Prospects for Women's and Human Rights under the Taliban."
• Dari – Native
• Pashto – Fluent
• Urdu – Fluent
• Arabic – Good
Extensive expertise in the political systems, parties, and armed groups of Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran. Specialist knowledge includes the Taliban (Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan), the former Mujahideen factions, Hizb-e Islami, left-wing and right-wing political movements, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and the Pakistan Muslim League (PML), including their structures, ideologies, governance, and regional influence.
Nationality and Origin Assessment
Extensive experience assessing nationality and country of origin through linguistic analysis, including language, accent, dialect, ethnicity, and regional socio-cultural indicators across Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran.
Hindu and Sikh communities.
Tewkesbury Road,
London,
W13 0BU