The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs has officially revoked the diplomatic immunity of Mohamad Rahim Peerzada, head of the Afghan Embassy in Madrid, following allegations of sexual assault and corruption.

A spokesperson for the ministry stated that Peerzada does not represent an official delegation and is not accredited in Spain, therefore lacking diplomatic immunity.

The decision comes after the Provincial Prosecutor's Office in Madrid archived a sexual abuse complaint against Peerzada on September 9, citing his status as a member of the diplomatic corps, which limits Spanish judicial jurisdiction.

The allegations against Peerzada are not isolated.

Multiple women have come forward accusing the Afghan diplomat of sexual abuses.

He has also been accused of diverting embassy funds to personal accounts for services rendered in bureaucratic processes.

Since the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, Peerzada has continued in his role, despite the collapse of the pro-Western government of Ashraf Ghani that appointed him.

On January 31, 2023, representatives from Afghan refugee associations in Spain met with officials from the Foreign Ministry to request the withdrawal of Peerzada's diplomatic immunity and an investigation into the corruption and sexual abuse allegations against him.

The ministry fulfilled part of this request by revoking his immunity.

The allegations began to surface after an Afghan woman, identified only as Anis, reported in an email to the General Prosecutor's Office her claim of having been sexually assaulted in Madrid by Peerzada.

Following her arrival in Spain as a refugee from the Taliban a month prior, Anis described meeting Peerzada during a Women's Day event at the Afghan Embassy and subsequently being invited out for what she believed was a job opportunity.

She reported that after consuming a drink at a social meeting with him, she lost consciousness and later awoke in a hotel room with Peerzada.

Another woman, Simin, also detailed her encounter with Peerzada.

Having met him during a Nowruz celebration, she recounted a dinner invitation that turned into an invitation to his residence, where she alleged that he attempted to sexually assault her.

Despite her resistance, she managed to escape, leaving her stranded without money for transportation.

Despite the serious nature of the allegations, Anis’s complaint was closed shortly after it was filed, as authorities determined Peerzada's diplomatic immunity protected him from prosecution in Spain.

Peerzada had been appointed as the Afghan charge d'affaires in February 2021, prior to the fall of the Ghani government, and he became the de facto head of the embassy after the ambassador's departure.

The January meeting with Afghan refugee representatives highlighted concerns over Peerzada's conduct, including allegations of receiving unreported payments and engaging in abuses during administrative interactions with Afghan women.

Although the delegation was male-dominated, they acknowledged the community of Afghan women in Spain had voiced concerns of sexual misconduct.

The director general of protocol at the Foreign Ministry, who met with the refugees, was noted to be aware of the ongoing investigations led by German police into these allegations.

Refugees urged for an independent and transparent investigation and for protections to be established for victims, particularly female survivors of abuse.

The ministry official warned that closing the embassy might hinder the functionalities needed by approximately 4,000 Afghan nationals in Spain, including critical processes such as passport and document renewals.

The Afghan refugees maintained that their asylum status should be recognized and that the Spanish government should provide necessary documentation rather than relying on the Taliban regime.

In December, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the HearUS conference, advocating for Afghan women's rights and their public roles following their exclusion from education and visibility under Taliban rule.

Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares announced Spain's support for inquiries into crimes against women committed since the Taliban's return to power.

Efforts to obtain comments from Peerzada have been unsuccessful, although he has categorically denied the allegations, suggesting that complaints should be directed to relevant legal authorities.