RASC News Agency: Twenty female leaders from parliaments across the globe have expressed their steadfast commitment to supporting Afghanistani women, vowing never to abandon them amidst the oppressive rule of the Taliban. In a joint statement published in Le Monde, these women leaders reaffirmed their support for the rights of Afghanistani women and girls, with a particular emphasis on their fundamental right to education. Meanwhile, nearly 158 French senators have signed an open letter, calling for international recognition of the gender apartheid being enforced in Afghanistan.
The signatories of the statement include Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament; Yael Braun-Pivet of France; Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; Francina Armengol from Spain; and Carolina Cerqueira from Angola. The statement declares: “Afghanistan remains the only country in the world that has prohibited the education of girls over the age of 12 and women. Afghanistani girls must not be deprived of their fundamental and universal right to education.” Describing the Taliban’s rule as a terrifying experience for Afghanistani women, the leaders condemned the latest decree issued under the Taliban’s Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice department, specifically the ban on women’s voices in public spaces. This measure has been described as “the final blow to women’s freedoms in Afghanistan.”
The statement details that the Taliban’s latest orders restrict women from leaving their homes without a male escort, from speaking in public, and even from reading poetry aloud. The authors pose a stark question: “What is their crime? Being women. What is their sin? Existing.” The female parliamentary leaders collectively affirmed their commitment to ensuring that Afghanistani women are not left behind, pledging to continue advocating for their rights at the global level.
This pledge comes as Afghanistani women remain systematically excluded from education, employment, and public life under the Taliban’s rule. Since their return to power, the Taliban has enforced policies that have effectively shut down opportunities for women in every aspect of life.
