Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, said on Monday that she was “deeply affected and profoundly shocked” by the invitation extended to Taliban representatives to Brussels. Referring to the Taliban’s extensive restrictions on women and girls, she stated that the group has deprived girls of education beyond the sixth grade and has exposed them to forced marriages.
On Monday, 1 Saratan (June 21), Malala Yousafzai wrote on her X (formerly Twitter) account, addressing European Union officials, that those invited to the meeting are representatives of a group that, in recent weeks, has arrested dozens of women in Herat for their choice of clothing.
The women’s rights activist also added that the Taliban have detained, beaten, and tortured women who, according to her, have attempted to express their views or defy the group’s regulations.
Meanwhile, the European Commission stated that it has invited a Taliban delegation to Brussels for talks regarding the return of Afghan migrants with criminal records and those whose asylum applications have been rejected. The Commission emphasized that the discussions with the Taliban delegation will take place at a technical level. The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday in Brussels.
The invitation of Taliban representatives to Brussels has sparked widespread reactions. A number of civil activists, Afghan women, as well as some European politicians and parties, have criticized the decision. Critics argue that this move could be seen as a retreat from the European Union’s human rights values and as a form of legitimization of the Taliban.
Malala Yousafzai further stated that the Taliban have, through what she describes as a “gender apartheid system,” excluded women and girls from public life. She emphasized that Europe should not grant legitimacy to an entity that, in her view, is responsible for one of the world’s most serious human rights crises.
The education and human rights activist also stated that any engagement with the Taliban must be centered on the rights of Afghan women and girls, and that this issue should be placed at the beginning and end of any dialogue.
Yousafzai had previously warned on 25 Jawza that such talks could be interpreted as diplomatic recognition of the Taliban government.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
