Human rights activists in France call for recognition of gender apartheid in Afghanistan

Strasbourg, France – A group of human rights activists, civil society activists, and Afghan citizens living in France held a protest rally in Strasbourg yesterday, expressing concern over the continued widespread violations of women’s rights in Afghanistan and the silence of the international community, and calling for recognition of “gender apartheid” in Afghanistan.

Participants in the rally, referring to the situation of Afghan women and girls after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, emphasized that Afghan women have been increasingly deprived of their fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to education, work, and participation in social and political life.

According to the organizers, based on reports from human rights organizations, in the past 1,500 days, the Taliban have issued 434 decrees and decisions that violate human rights, of which 166 directly targeted women and girls.

Emphasizing that what is happening in Afghanistan is not just discrimination, but an organized system to exclude women from society, the participants declared: “This situation is not normal and acceptable. Women are being deprived of their basic rights simply because they are women, and this is an example of gender apartheid.”

The attendees also expressed their solidarity with the women of Herat and all Afghan women who continue to fight for their rights despite pressures and restrictions, adding that the violation of women’s rights should not be allowed to become normal, accepted, or forgotten.

Human rights activists continued to express concern about the invitation of Taliban representatives to international meetings and forums, while women’s rights in Afghanistan are being violated more and more every day, and called on European institutions to be transparent about how they interact and grant Taliban representatives the opportunity to attend.

They emphasized that women’s rights should be the main focus of any policymaking and decision-making regarding Afghanistan.

Participants in the gathering called on the French government, the European Union, and international institutions to put the following measures on the agenda:

* Recognition of gender apartheid in Afghanistan;
* Effective support for Afghan women and human rights defenders;
* Defense of the rights of women and girls in all policies and decisions related to Afghanistan;
* Special attention to the situation of women in Herat;
* Greater transparency in relations and interactions with Taliban representatives.

At the end of the gathering, participants emphasized that “Afghan women are not alone,” and declared:

“Their struggle is also our struggle. Their freedom is also our freedom; because women’s rights are human rights, and silence in the face of injustice is never a solution.”

The protesters also called on the international community not to forget Afghanistan and its women and to defend their rights with practical and effective solidarity.

The gathering ended with the following slogans:

“Do not forget the women of Afghanistan.”

“Don’t forget the girls of Afghanistan.”

“Don’t forget Herat.”

“And don’t forget the people of Afghanistan.”

Report: Shahpour Nayebzada