RASC News Agency: More than 84 Afghanistani and international human rights organizations have issued an open letter criticizing the European Union’s decision to invite Taliban representatives to a meeting in Brussels focused on the return of Afghanistani refugees. The signatories warned that such a move could contribute to the normalization of relations with the Taliban and be perceived as granting political legitimacy to the group.
The letter, endorsed by dozens of civil society, human rights, and refugee advocacy organizations, argues that the Taliban lack democratic legitimacy and cannot be regarded as genuine representatives of the people of Afghanistan. The organizations stressed that hosting Taliban representatives at an official gathering in a European capital risks sending a troubling political message to both the international community and the citizens of Afghanistan.
The signatories also expressed serious concern over plans and policies being considered by several European governments to return Afghanistani asylum seekers and refugees to Afghanistan. According to the letter, forced repatriation under the current circumstances raises significant legal, security, and humanitarian concerns and may conflict with states’ international obligations toward refugees, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to places where they may face persecution or serious harm.
The organizations emphasized that any political or diplomatic engagement with the Taliban should be assessed in light of the group’s record on human rights, women’s rights, civil liberties, and political participation. They warned that extending legitimacy to a movement widely criticized for imposing sweeping restrictions on women, suppressing freedom of expression, and dismantling inclusive political structures could have profound and long-lasting consequences for the future of human rights in Afghanistan.
Among the organizations that signed the letter are the Afghanistan–Canada Cultural Association, the Afghan Civil Society Forum, the Afghanistan Cinema House, the Afghanistan Foundation, the Afghanistan Democracy and Development Organization, the Network for Freedom in Afghanistan, the Afghanistan Cultural and Rehabilitation Services Organization, the International Federation for Human Rights, the Displaced Persons Assistance Initiative, Civil Rights Defenders, the Global Initiative Against Impunity, the Union of Human Rights Activists, Parliamentarians for Global Action, and the Women’s Initiative for Gender Justice.
The protest comes after a spokesperson for the European Commission confirmed that an invitation had been sent to Kabul for Taliban representatives to attend the Brussels meeting. However, European Union officials have not yet clarified the level of Taliban participation or disclosed the identities of the individuals who may represent the group at the event.
The invitation has also drawn criticism from several members of the European Parliament. Some lawmakers have called on EU officials to reconsider the decision and refrain from providing the Taliban with any formal platform. They argue that such engagement could undermine international efforts to hold the Taliban accountable for their human rights record, particularly regarding the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan.
