RASC News Agency: The Women’s Political Participation Network of Afghanistan has called upon the Taliban to cease their ongoing repression and hostage-like treatment of Afghanistani women. Commemorating October 10th, the International Day of Global Solidarity with Afghanistani Women, the network highlighted that in 2021, citizens from over a hundred nations staged protests against the severe restrictions imposed on women and girls in Afghanistan, advocating fiercely for their rights.
The network’s statement reads: “Girls’ schools in Afghanistan must be reopened, and the political exploitation of Afghanistani women and girls must end immediately.” The organization has urged global powers to bring the Taliban to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for their “crimes against humanity,” emphasizing the need for accountability. Furthermore, the network called for the release of political, civil, and military prisoners from the previous government, who were arrested despite the Taliban’s declaration of general amnesty. The Taliban’s actions, the network argues, starkly contradict their own public promises.
The statement also reiterated demands for the international community to officially recognize the gender apartheid taking place in Afghanistan. The network stressed the importance of safeguarding the rights of religious and gender minorities, which continue to be violated under Taliban rule. Since their seizure of power, the Taliban have systematically marginalized women, shutting down schools, universities, and other avenues of public life for them. In a regressive ruling, the Taliban declared that even the voice of women is considered “indecent,” further deepening the isolation imposed on Afghanistani women.
October 10th marks a significant moment of international solidarity, with women from over sixty countries holding protests in support of Afghanistani women. In Canada, Afghanistani, Iranian, and Canadian women gathered in the city center, calling on the international community to reject the Taliban regime’s legitimacy.
