A joint Press Release was issued on 21 August 2021 by 12 women’s organisations expressing their “solidarity with the Afghan people and Afghan women”, following the Taliban’s takeover of power in Afghanistan. As they point out, “the return of Taliban rule marks the beginning of a new tragedy for the Afghan people and especially for Afghan women and girls who are under the direct threat of the implementation of a an extremely strict interpretation of Sharia law, which practically means deprivation of their human rights, humiliation and great risks to their lives.” Read the full Press Release below:

The images that have been circulating on the internet in recent days of thousands of Afghan women and men huddled desperately at Kabul airport trying to flee their homes, property, and country, are haunting us.

We have been following with extreme concern what has been happening in recent days in Afghanistan, following the Taliban’s takeover of power, which has taken aback the global community.

The return of Taliban rule marks the beginning of a new tragedy for the Afghan people and especially for Afghan women and girls who are under the direct threat of applying an extremely strict interpretation of Sharia law, which practically means deprivation of their human rights, humiliation and great risks to their lives.

History seems to be repeating itself. The 20 years of the American invasion seem not to have brought salvation, but they have stirred up contradictions, sparked violent conflicts, and now the price for their failure is being paid dearly, especially by Afghan women.

Afghanistan is facing a huge humanitarian crisis. Under these extremely difficult circumstances:

• We express our solidarity with the Afghan people and in particular with the Afghan women and girls, who are currently being targeted by the Taliban, and whose human rights and lives are in danger.
• We ask the European governments and especially the Greek government, instead of erecting walls that divide people, to welcome with safe, simple, and legal procedures those women refugees from Afghanistan who address the respective embassies, so that they do not fall into the hands of trafficking rings.
• We condemn the violations of the human rights of women, vulnerable social groups, national minorities, and all the Afghan people. We refuse, however, to accept that Afghan women should become a tool to justify wars, conflicts, and imperialist tactics.
• We call on the global community to take steps to: peacefully settle gender-inclusive disputes in the region, send humanitarian aid, protect the human rights of women and all Afghan citizens, and protect refugees.

We declare our commitment to support Afghan women’s movements and their demands which are peace, democracy, social justice, and human rights.

Athens, 31-8-2021

Women’s organizations’ sign

1. Women’s Self-Defense Group
2. Diotima Center for Women’s Studies and Research
3. Greek Network for the Feminist Strike
4. Greek Women’s Union
5. European Anti-Violence Network (EACN)
6. Centre for Research and Action for Peace (KEDE)
7. MITERAS ERGON Association of Mothers with Many Children
8. Greek Network of European Women
9. NIMERTIS ACTIONART NPID
10. Women’s Rights Group Social Intervention Dytika
11. Piraeus Women’s Initiative
12. Women’s Rights Association “TO MOV”