Two members of the European Parliament, Abir Al-Sahlani and Hilde Vautmans, have strongly criticized the Taliban’s restrictions on Afghan women and girls and have called for “gender apartheid” to be recognized as an international crime.
In a joint video message, the two lawmakers stated that the Taliban do not regard women as independent human beings but instead deprive them of fundamental rights and freedoms. They emphasized that they will continue their efforts until the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls are fully guaranteed.
The Members of the European Parliament noted that millions of women and girls in Afghanistan have been deprived of education, employment, social life, and the right to make decisions about their own future. According to them, the systematic exclusion of women from social, educational, and political spheres is part of an organized policy.
Al-Sahlani and Vautmans added that the restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women cannot be justified under the pretext of culture, tradition, or religion. They stated that the current situation in Afghanistan represents a systematic effort to erase women’s social presence and constitutes a clear example of “gender apartheid” and a crime against humanity.
They called on the international community to end its silence regarding the situation of Afghan women and to support them through political, legal, and practical measures. They also stressed that international law should recognize “gender apartheid” as an independent international crime, so that its perpetrators can be held accountable and prosecuted.
The European Parliament members urged governments and international organizations not to grant legitimacy to the Taliban and not to recognize a regime that deprives women and girls of their fundamental rights and freedoms solely on the basis of their gender.
These remarks come at a time when international criticism and pressure continue due to the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls. Al-Sahlani and Vautmans believe that political statements alone are not sufficient, and that the international community must take effective measures to protect the rights of Afghan women.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
