Joint Statement Condemns Taliban Crackdown on Women Protesters in Herat

Dozens of independent organizations, protest movements, human rights defenders, civil society activists, journalists, and Afghan academics have issued a joint statement strongly condemning the Taliban’s suppression of public protests in Herat and the arrest of women. They called for the immediate release of those detained and urged an end to political engagement with the Taliban.

According to the signatories, the recent crisis began when the Taliban intensified restrictions on women and threatened them with arrest over their clothing, creating a widespread atmosphere of fear and concern in Herat. They stated that the public protests in Jebrail Township were a direct response to the detention of women and the Taliban’s repressive policies.

The statement notes that the Taliban used excessive force against protesters, resulting in the killing, injury, and arrest of a number of citizens. The authors emphasized that the detention of women and restrictions on their participation in social life are part of a systematic and organized campaign of oppression against women in Afghanistan.

The signatories further warned that the Taliban’s policies toward women constitute a clear example of institutionalized discrimination and gender apartheid. They stressed that continued silence and inaction by the international community could normalize this situation and contribute to further violations of women’s rights. They called on the United Nations, the Human Rights Council, the European Union, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and other international bodies to adopt a firm, practical, and effective response to these actions.

In another section of the statement, the signatories called for the deployment of an independent international fact-finding mission to investigate the recent events in Herat, document human rights violations, identify those responsible for acts of violence, and clarify the situation of detainees. They also emphasized the need for targeted political and diplomatic pressure on Taliban officials involved in the repression of women and protesters.

The organizations urged the European Union and Western countries to condition any political, diplomatic, or technical engagement with the Taliban on respect for human rights, the protection of women’s fundamental freedoms, an end to arbitrary arrests, and the removal of discriminatory restrictions against women. They warned that granting legitimacy to the Taliban without regard for the situation of women and victims of human rights abuses would not only perpetuate these violations but also strengthen repressive policies and increase pressure on the people of Afghanistan.