Afghan Activists in the U.S.: The International Community’s Inability to Take Effective Action Has Emboldened the Taliban

During the rally, protesters emphasized: “In Afghanistan, women are deprived of education, work, and participation in society, and face violence, imprisonment, and harassment—while the world remains a silent observer.”

The protesters added that the Taliban regime has turned Afghanistan into the only country in the world where half its population has been systematically erased from society.

According to them, women are denied the rights to education, work, free expression, and political participation, and nd driven into isolation, poverty, and despair.

They also stressed that those who resist these crimes face “arrest, torture, and execution. The international community’s inability to take effective action has emboldened the Taliban.”

The protesters called for the recognition of gender apartheid as a crime against humanity and the prosecution of its perpetrators. They asserted: “The Taliban must not be recognized as a legitimate government, and no country or institution should engage in political or diplomatic relations with them. Any negotiation with the Taliban legitimizes their regime and normalizes their crimes.”

Additionally, the protesters demanded the imposition of “strict sanctions” against Taliban leaders and an end to any financial support that could strengthen the group’s oppression. They urged governments, organizations, and individuals worldwide to “break their silence” against the Taliban’s suppression of women.

The protesters warned that “history will judge those who have remained silent,” and that inaction amounts to “supporting oppression and betraying” human rights.