Shaharzad Akbar, the former chair of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, has strongly criticized the European Union, saying that the bloc is willing to engage with the Taliban in order to secure the return of Afghan migrants.
She stated that the European Union is reportedly prepared to invite Taliban representatives to Brussels for this purpose.
In a post on her X (formerly Twitter) account, Ms. Akbar wrote that a regime which “buries women alive” should not be concerned about international isolation and lack of response, because, according to her, the European Union is readily willing to deal with it. These remarks come amid the ongoing expansion of Taliban restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan.
Alongside these criticisms, dozens of Afghan and international human rights and civil society organizations have warned in a joint open letter to EU officials that normalizing relations with the Taliban administration would have adverse consequences. The letter also calls on European countries to immediately halt the forced deportation of Afghan asylum seekers.
Meanwhile, Belgium’s Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot has also expressed opposition to a potential visit by a Taliban delegation to Brussels and to any invitation extended to them. A spokesperson for the Belgian Foreign Ministry said that the minister would never accept the Belgian government inviting Taliban representatives to Brussels for talks in its name.
Writer:Saeed Sameer
