The European Parliament adopted by 513 votes to 9, with 24 abstentions, a resolution on the repressive environment in Afghanistan, including public executions and violence against women.
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.
Furthermore, the Taliban have virtually erased women and girls from public life. 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.
Parliament expressed its grave concern about the humanitarian and human rights crises in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover. It condemned 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. It called 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.
The de facto Afghan authorities are urged 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.
Parliament supports Afghan civil society’s call to hold the de-facto authorities accountable for their crimes, particularly via the International Criminal Court investigation by establishing an UN Independent Investigative Mechanism, and by expanding EU restrictive measures.
The EU and Member States are urged to increase humanitarian aid and funding to support basic needs and livelihoods and Afghan civil society. Parliament urged Member States to issue humanitarian visas to persecuted women and human rights defenders.
Lastly, Members insisted that any EU engagement with the Taliban can be maintained only under strict conditions set by the Council and in accordance with the UN Special Rapporteur’s recommendations.