RASC News Agency: A coalition of European civil society organizations and human rights defenders has issued a powerful statement urging the European Union particularly Germany to undertake a thorough and urgent review of the Taliban’s lobbying activities across Europe. Released on Tuesday, April 15, the statement expresses deep concern over the presence of individuals with direct or indirect ties to the Taliban who, under the pretense of working in media or civil society, are actively engaged in efforts to rehabilitate and sanitize the image of what the coalition describes as an extremist regime. The Taliban, they argue, represents a system that is fundamentally misogynistic, ethnocentric, and in blatant violation of core human rights principles.
According to the declaration, these individuals often labeled as journalists, analysts, or civil activists travel freely to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and participate in the group’s orchestrated events and publicity campaigns. Human rights advocates warn that such appearances contribute to the broader strategy of legitimizing a regime that systematically suppresses dissent, curtails basic freedoms, and tramples on the rights of women, ethnic minorities, and opposition voices. The coalition characterizes these lobbying efforts as a direct threat to the democratic and human rights values upon which Europe stands. It calls on host governments and international institutions to implement concrete legal frameworks and targeted restrictions aimed at curbing the Taliban’s political exploitation of European platforms.
The statement also reveals that the Taliban has gained de facto control over certain Afghanistan’s diplomatic missions in Europe. In a bid to rebrand its global image, the group has reportedly resorted to sensational tactics, including inviting controversial public figures such as adult film stars to Afghanistan. Human rights groups view this as a calculated attempt to distort public perception and craft a misleading portrayal of the regime’s true nature. The coalition warns that without decisive action, these lobbying efforts risk legitimizing a government that continues to commit grave human rights violations with impunity.
