More than 20 civil society organizations, in an open letter addressed to Johann Wadephul, Germany’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, have called for an end to the country’s cooperation with the Taliban and for full implementation of Germany’s commitments regarding the admission of Afghan citizens.
The letter was handed over to the minister by representatives of the signatory organizations during his visit to the city of Kiel.
Expressing concern over Germany’s policy toward the Taliban, the signatories urged the government to refrain from any cooperation or actions that, in their view, could lead to political and diplomatic legitimization of the Taliban.
The letter was presented to the Minister of Foreign Affairs by Helen Rock and Leni Hintze from the organization “Don’t Forget Afghanistan,” and Farangis Sogand and Lawa Mohammadi from the organization “Participation of Afghans in the State of Schleswig-Holstein,” on behalf of the signatory groups.
The letter also calls on the German government to place human rights at the center of its policy toward Afghanistan and to avoid any measures that could contribute to legitimizing the Taliban.
The signatories emphasize the acceleration of programs supporting the admission and protection of Afghan citizens, particularly those at risk, and call for the rejection of any agreements that could lead to normalization of relations with the Taliban or the deportation of Afghan asylum seekers. They also stress the importance of involving Afghan women’s rights activists and representatives of Afghan civil society in decision-making processes related to the country.
Farangis Sogand, a poet and women’s rights activist and one of the signatories of the letter, said: “While the people of Afghanistan are facing suffering, torture, and persecution, Germany is granting legitimacy to this group by receiving Taliban representatives.”
She added: “For many Afghan citizens, Germany and the European Union were once the last hope for escaping repression and systematic human rights violations. However, it now appears that political considerations are being placed above the suffering and lives of thousands of people. We cannot remain silent in the face of this situation, and for that reason we have called in this letter for the immediate end of any cooperation with the Taliban.”
Writer:Salima Aryaei
