What changed

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on the repressive environment in Afghanistan, including public executions and violence against women

B90188/2024

Motion for a European Parliament resolution on The repressive environment in Afghanistan, including public executions and violence against women

(2024/2617(RSP))

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Afghanistan,

– having regard to Rules 144(5) andRule 132(4)144 of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas since taking over the country the Taliban have dismantled the judicial system, ordered judges to fully implement Sharia and resumed public executions and cruel punishments such as flogging and stoning; whereas five public executions have since taken place with thousands in attendance;

A. whereas Afghanistan under the Taliban’s regime remains the most repressive country in the world for women’s rights, with numerous unprecedented restrictions on women’s rights; whereas Afghan women are deprived of their livelihoods, identity, education, employment, leisure, travel, sports and equal access to humanitarian aid; whereas the recent decision to ban women from working for non-governmental organizations has led to more than 100 civil society groups being unable to function fully ; whereas women cannot travel more than 75 kilometres without a male guardian, practice any kind of sport and are banned from public baths, restaurants and parks;

B. whereas the Taliban have virtually erased women and girls from public life; whereas restrictions on their rights include barring their access to work, travel and healthcare without a male relative, banning education beyond sixth grade, denying access to public places and sports, violently enforcing a strict dress code and dismantling the support system for victims of violence;

B. whereas United Nations experts have called for the Taliban to be investigated and held accountable for relentless brutal oppression against woman in Afghanistan;

C. whereas minorities, such as the Hazaras and Tajiks, face growing repression and discrimination;

C. whereas since January 2023 there have been at least 1,977 documented claims of human rights breaches involving killings, arbitrary detentions and torture of women confirming a gradual rise in cases targeting women;

1. Expresses its grave concern about the humanitarian and human rights crises in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover; recalls Afghanistan’s international human rights obligations; reiterates its unwavering commitment to the Afghan people and to upholding their rights and freedoms secured over the past 20 years;

D. whereas the de facto Supreme Court in Afghanistan welcomes in its Constitution women’s punishments including stoning, flogging, burying under a wall and public executions;

2. Condemns the Taliban’s radical interpretation and enforcement of Sharia and the attempted erasure of women and girls from public life, which amounts to gender persecution and gender apartheid; calls for the full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls in public life to be immediately restored, particularly their access to education and work; commends the courage of Afghanistan’s women and stands in solidarity with them;

F. whereas woman human rights defender Manizha Seddiqi disappeared on 9 October 2023 and later was found in Taliban custody without charges; whereas she does not have access to lawyers or family visits while in prison and is at risk of torture;

3. Urges the de facto Afghan authorities to abolish capital punishment and immediately halt public executions, other cruel or inhuman punishments and its discrimination against and barbaric persecution of women and girls, and LGBTIQ+, ethnic and religious minorities, in particular;

G. whereas on 31 December 2022 women and girls in the Shia/Hazara and Tajik communities were arrested for not wearing a Hijab;

4. Condemns the arbitrary detention of human rights defenders, including Manizha Seddiqi, Ahmad Fahim Azimi, Sediqullah Afghan, Fardin Fedayee and Ezatullah Zwab; calls for their immediate and unconditional release;

1. Condemns the brutal and undignified nature of the punishments perpetrated against women by the Taliban regime under Sharia law as well as deeply entrenched discrimination and stereotypes, including those held by the exclusively male judiciary – a manifestation of the gender-based persecution that women and girls endure in Afghanistan;

5. Insists on maintaining strictly conditional engagement with the Taliban based on the five benchmarks set by the Council and the UN Special Rapporteur’s recommendations;

2. Condemns the regime put into practice by the Taliban which denies any form of normal life to girls and women in Afghanistan; stands with Afghans in reclaiming their traditions and their rights; highlights the detrimental effects of Taliban policy on women, including their mental health; recognizes that Afghan women and girls need the support of the international community and calls on the international community to increase pressure on the Taliban to revoke its oppressive policies and to raise international awareness about these oppressions;

6. Supports Afghan civil society’s calls to hold the de facto authorities accountable for their crimes, particularly through the International Criminal Court investigation, by establishing a UN Independent Investigative Mechanism and expanding EU restrictive measures;

3. Commends courage of Afghan woman who despite the very grave risk of detention and violence, continue to march on the streets, raising their voices; and continue finding ways to live their lives amid restrictions, including attending underground schools and universities;

7. Urges the EU and Member States to increase humanitarian aid and funding to support basic needs and livelihoods and Afghan civil society; urges Member States to issue humanitarian visas to persecuted women and human rights defenders and to finish evacuating local Afghan staff left behind;

4. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the, Council, the Commission, the VP/HR, and the Secretary-General of the UN.

8. Calls on the international community and, in particular, regional actors to maintain pressure on the de facto Afghan authorities; highlights that the forced return of Afghans puts them at risk;

9. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Member States, the UN and the de facto Afghan authorities.