Brussels; Civil Society and Human Rights Organizations Call for De-Legitimate Taliban

Kabul Times News – A number of civil society organizations, human rights defenders, and international organizations have called on the European Union and its member states in an open letter to refrain from any action that would lead to the legitimization of the group during a possible meeting of Taliban representatives in Brussels.

The signatories of the letter stressed that the Taliban do not represent the Afghan people and have imposed widespread restrictions on fundamental rights and freedoms, especially the rights of women and girls, since returning to power in 2021. They also pointed to reports of human rights violations, arbitrary detentions, torture, and repression of civil society.

The letter calls on the EU to continue its support for judicial accountability for human rights violations and international crimes, to refrain from forcibly returning Afghan refugees to Afghanistan, and to take into account the views of victims and civil society activists in decision-making related to Afghanistan.

The letter was published with the support of dozens of Afghan and international civil society and human rights organizations.