A group of Afghan residents in Madrid, the capital of Spain, gathered in solidarity with the women and protesters of Herat, calling for the cancellation of invitations extended to the Taliban to attend international meetings and forums, particularly the European Parliament.
In a statement released on Saturday, June 13, the protesters said that over the past nearly five years, the Taliban have committed widespread human rights violations and imposed gender apartheid by depriving women of access to education, employment, and social participation.
According to the statement, extensive restrictions on women, the suppression of freedom of expression, the detention and torture of critics, and discriminatory policies have severely worsened the human rights situation in Afghanistan.
Participants in the gathering also expressed solidarity with the people of Herat and condemned the Taliban’s suppression of peaceful protests and treatment of demonstrators.
They further said that the killing and injury of Afghan citizens during recent protests reflect the Taliban’s violent response to public demands.
The statement called on the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), the Spanish government, and international human rights organizations to increase support for Afghan women and take steps toward recognizing gender apartheid as a crime against humanity.
The protesters specifically urged the European Parliament to refrain from inviting Taliban representatives to official meetings and to condition any engagement with the group on respect for the fundamental rights of Afghan citizens, particularly women.
