Manizha Bakhtari
Manizha Bakhtari is an Afghan diplomat, author and journalist renowned for her contributions to the country's literary and political landscape. She is currently the Afghan ambassador to Austria, leading one of Afghanistan's most significant diplomatic representations. Bakhtari previously served as the country's ambassador to the Nordic countries, as well as the chief of staff for Afghanistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Prior to her diplomatic career, Bakhtari served as a lecturer at Kabul University's Journalism Faculty, which is her alma mater. She is particularly recognized for her fight against gender discrimination and apartheid in Afghanistan, a cause to which she has dedicated her literary and professional careers. Her activism intensified in response to the Taliban's resurgence in 2021, during which she was outspoken about the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. She is one of the few women in the country to have been ranked ambassador, and has used her platform to advocate for international support and attention to the plight of Afghan women.
Diplomatic career
Bakhtari was Ambassador to the Nordic countries from September 2009.Bakhtari was the subject of the 2025 documentary The Last Ambassador, directed by Austrian filmmaker Natalie Halla, which chronicled her continued diplomatic work in exile and her advocacy for the rights of Afghan women under Taliban rule.