The World Liberty Congress (WLC) expresses its serious concern regarding the ongoing targeted harassment, defamation, and coordinated online attacks against Nilofar Ayoubi, Afghan women’s rights advocate, democracy activist, and member of the WLC Leadership Council.
For months, Nilofar Ayoubi has been subjected to escalating intimidation campaigns, online abuse, reputational attacks, and organized harassment aimed at silencing her voice and undermining her work. These actions go far beyond legitimate criticism or political disagreement. What we are witnessing is a sustained attempt at character assassination and intimidation targeting a prominent female activist who has dedicated her platform to advocating for freedom, human rights, and the rights of Afghan women and girls.
The World Liberty Congress is particularly concerned by repeated public attacks and the dissemination of unverified allegations through social media platforms and coordinated online networks. Individuals with large online audiences carry a responsibility to avoid amplifying false or misleading claims without credible evidence or reliable sourcing. The deliberate spread of defamatory narratives, selective misinformation, and coordinated harassment contributes to a toxic climate of intimidation and reputational harm directed at democracy advocates and dissidents.
The World Liberty Congress is further alarmed by ongoing efforts to weaponize public platforms and online influence against activists through the reckless spread of accusations and targeted online campaigns. Freedom of expression must not be abused as a shield for deliberate defamation, intimidation, or transnational harassment directed at human rights defenders and democracy advocates.
The deliberate dissemination of false accusations, misinformation, and coordinated attacks against members of the World Liberty Congress will not be tolerated. WLC reserves the right to pursue all appropriate legal and institutional measures against individuals or networks engaged in defamation, intimidation, or coordinated actions intended to cause reputational, professional, or personal harm to its members.
What is certain is that Nilofar Ayoubi, throughout years of advocacy under extremely difficult and dangerous conditions, has consistently demonstrated courage and commitment in defending human rights, particularly the rights of Afghan women and girls. Her outspoken positions against authoritarianism, extremism, and repression have made her an important voice for freedom, dignity, and democratic values.
Women activists from authoritarian and conflict-affected regions are too often subjected not only to political attacks, but also to gender-based harassment intended to silence and delegitimize them in the public sphere. These tactics are unacceptable and must not be normalized.
The World Liberty Congress stands in full solidarity with Nilofar Ayoubi and condemns in the strongest possible terms all forms of targeted harassment, intimidation, coordinated defamation, and transnational repression directed against peaceful activists and human rights defenders.
Silence in the face of such attacks only emboldens those responsible. Democratic institutions, civil society actors, media platforms, and international partners must take seriously the growing use of online harassment and coordinated smear campaigns as tools to silence dissidents and democracy advocates.
The World Liberty Congress reaffirms its commitment to defending the safety, dignity, and freedom of its members and all individuals peacefully advocating for democracy, women’s rights, and human rights around the world.
In moments like these, solidarity is not symbolic — it is protective.
