Spain Seeks Arrest Warrant For Ex-Afghan Diplomat Accused Of Sexual Assault

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Spanish police have requested the issuance of an international arrest warrant for Rahim Peerzada, a former Afghan diplomat accused of sexual harassment and assault.

If approved by a Spanish court, the warrant could pave the way for Peerzada’s prosecution and potential extradition from the United States.

Peerzada, who served as the acting head of the Afghan embassy in Spain following the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in 2021, reportedly began cooperating with the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs soon after assuming the post.

According to the German newspaper Die Welt, which first reported the case on Wednesday, 11 June, a specialised unit of the Spanish police dedicated to combating violence against women has submitted its findings to a court in Madrid. The police informed at least one of the alleged victims via email that the case is now in the hands of a judge, who will determine whether an extradition order is issued.

Peerzada is currently in custody in the United States. He was arrested in late March 2025 at Washington Dulles International Airport under the alias “Mohammad Rahim Wahidi.” His detention is reportedly linked to a separate criminal investigation involving his brother-in-law, Farhad Shakeri, who is accused by the US Department of Justice of conspiring in a plot to assassinate Iranian-American journalist Masih Alinejad.

Allegations of Sexual Assault and Harassment

Multiple women, including an Afghan woman living in Germany under the pseudonym Anis, have accused Peerzada of sexual assault. Anis told Die Welt that in 2022, while in Madrid, Peerzada drugged and raped her. “My life will never be the same,” she said, “but now, at least, there’s a chance for justice.”

Until recently, legal proceedings in Spain were stalled due to Peerzada’s diplomatic immunity. The Madrid prosecutor’s office had previously ruled that prosecution was not possible while he retained diplomatic status. However, following public outcry and media scrutiny, Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement clarifying that Peerzada was no longer recognised as a diplomat in the country.

“This person does not represent any official delegation, is not accredited in Spain, and does not enjoy diplomatic immunity,” the ministry stated. His name has since been removed from Spain’s official diplomatic registry, allowing the case to move forward.

Peerzada has denied all allegations, attributing them to personal grudges and media distortion.

Background and Diplomatic Role

Peerzada took over the leadership of the Afghan embassy in Madrid in 2021 after his predecessor, Homayoun Rasa, resigned in protest against the Taliban’s return to power. In October 2023, the embassy announced it had begun coordinating with the Taliban’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on consular matters and stated in a press release that it “represents its country and people.”

Afghanistan International reached out to Peerzada for comment on the Spanish police’s extradition request, but he has not responded at the time of publication.