22 February 2026, Mosaic staff
This documentary chronicles the efforts of Afghanistan’s Ambassador in Austria, Manizha Bakhtari, following the 2021 fall of the republic to the Taliban, as she strives to secure freedom for her homeland. Ambassador Bakhtari makes a pivotal choice to represent the hopes of millions of her fellow citizens in Afghanistan, a nation taken over by a “terrorist group.” The film illustrates her journey to becoming the authentic voice of her people, particularly women who confront systemic marginalisation, often described as “gender apartheid,” in internal discussions and media. Directed by Natalie Halla (2025, Golden Girls Film).
Introduction
In partnership with the End Gender Apartheid campaign, Mosaic Global Foundation is honoured to co-host three London screenings of The Last Ambassador, a powerful new documentary by filmmaker Natalie Halla. Each screening is followed by a dedicated panel discussion featuring leading voices from Afghanistan's diplomacy, academia, journalism, and civil society.
These events are organised in partnership with Bertha DocHouse, the Austrian Cultural Forum London, the Embassy of Austria, and the Frontline Club—institutions committed to truth-telling, human rights, and democratic futures.
The film follows the extraordinary journey of Ambassador Manizha Bakhtari, the last remaining female ambassador of Afghanistan in Europe, who continues to represent her people in Vienna despite the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. Her courage, clarity, and unwavering commitment to be the voice of the people of Afghanistan, particularly her championing of the rights of women and girls, reflect the values Mosaic seeks to amplify: dignity, pluralism, and democratic possibility.
About the Film
After the Taliban regained power, Ambassador Bakhtari refused to abandon her post. instead, she chose to remain in Vienna and continue speaking for the “millions of people silenced by a terrorist group,” as she openly describes the Taliban. Her principled stance has come at great personal cost, including threats to her safety, yet she persists—at the United Nations, in international media, and across global platforms.
The documentary highlights:
- Gender apartheid in Afghanistan, and Ambassador Bakhtari’s outspoken defence of women and girls.
- Her Daughters’ Programme, supporting girls banned from education beyond grade six.
- Her nuanced analysis of Afghanistan’s collapse to the Taliban, rejecting simplistic narratives.
- Her solidarity with women of Afghanistan, who face both Taliban repression and restrictive traditions.
- Her leadership in convening the Vienna Process for a Democratic Afghanistan, which now brings together more than 50 resistance and political groups, has been held five times so far.
Quite befittingly, the film is dedicated to the women and girls of Afghanistan.
Screening Details and Screening and Panels
- Bertha DocHouse — 24 February, 6:30 PM
- Manizha Bakhtari, Ambassador of Afghanistan to Austria
- Horia Mosadiq, Human Rights Activist
Moderator: Marika Theros, Director of Civic Engagement Project, London School of Economics (LSE)
- Austrian Cultural Forum London & Embassy of Austria — 25 February, 6:30 PM
Welcoming remarks:
Director of the Austrian Cultural Forum
Natalie Halla, Director of “The Last Ambassador”
Panellists:
- Manizha Bakhtari, Ambassador of Afghanistan to Austria
- Abdy Yaganeh, Director of Policy, Independent Diplomat, a non-profit diplomatic advisory and a former British diplomat
- Joanna Lewis, Professor Joanna Lewis is the Director of the Centre for Women, Peace and Security at the London School of Economics (LSE).
Moderator: Dr Marissa Quie, Fellow and Director of Studies in HSPS, Lucy Cavendish College, University of Cambridge
- Frontline Club — 26 February, 6:30 PM
Panellists:
- Manizha Bakhtari, Ambassador of Afghanistan to Austria
- Zalmai Nishat, Founder and Executive Chair of Mosaic Global Foundation
- Shabnam Nasimi, presenter, writer, and political commentator.
Moderator: David Loyn, veteran journalist and author of books on Afghanistan
Why These Screenings Matter
After about four and a half years of the Taliban’s return, Afghanistan faces a system of “gender apartheid”—a term now used by women’s rights defenders of Afghanistan, UN experts, and international jurists. Women and girls have been erased from public life through repressive decrees and punitive enforcement.
As some governments move toward normalising relations with the Taliban, it is vital to amplify the voices of those resisting the Taliban. Ambassador Bakhtari’s story is a reminder that women of Afghanistan are not passive victims—they are leading the struggle for rights, dignity, and democratic futures.
Mosaic is proud to help bring this story to London audiences and to foster conversations rooted in solidarity, justice, and pluralism.
Conclusion
Mosaic Global Foundation stands alongside Ambassador Manizha Bakhtari and the women and girls of Afghanistan. The Last Ambassador is more than a documentary—it is a testament to courage, moral clarity, and the enduring struggle for a democratic and pluralistic Afghanistan.
We invite our community, partners, and friends to join us across these three evenings as we honour the resilience of women of Afghanistan and reaffirm our shared commitment to justice, dignity, and human rights.