On Thursday 14 March in Strasbourg, MEPs voted by a very large majority (513 in favour, 9 against and 24 abstentions) in favour of the motion for a resolution tabled by the EPP, S&D, Renew Europe, Greens/EFA and ECR on the repressive environment in Afghanistan, including public executions and violence against women.
The resolution raises serious concerns about the actions of the Taliban in Afghanistan, including the dismantling of the judicial system, the imposition of strict Sharia law and the suppression of women’s rights.
It condemns public executions and gender-based persecution, and urges the restoration of women’s rights and an immediate halt to discriminatory practices and the persecution of women and girls, LGBTIQ+ people and ethnic and religious minorities.
It also calls for the release of detained human rights defenders and for strictly conditional engagement with the Taliban based on the five benchmarks set by the EU Council and the UN Special Rapporteur’s recommendations.
It also supports Afghan civil society’s calls to hold the authorities accountable for their crimes, and urges increased humanitarian aid and international pressure on the Afghan authorities.
To see the resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/bbr (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)