During Thursday 21 May’s plenary sitting, the European Parliament adopted by a large majority (480 votes in favour, 5 against and 83 abstentions) a resolution condemning the Taliban regime’s recent adoption of a new code of criminal procedure in Afghanistan that is even more repressive for women.
Backed by the Greens/EFA group, The Left, the Socialists and Democrats, Renew Europe, the European People’s Party and the European Conservatives and Reformists Group, the resolution denounces an institutionalisation of violations of fundamental rights in Afghanistan, describing the situation as “gender apartheid”. It therefore calls for the immediate repeal of the code and, more broadly, an end to executions, public floggings and all restrictions targeting women, religious minorities and LGBTIQ+ people.
MEPs are calling for sanctions against Afghan leaders to be extended. They are urging the Commission and the Member States to maintain a policy of non-recognition of the regime, expressing particular regret over the invitation extended to a Taliban delegation to Brussels as part of negotiations on the readmission of irregular migrants (see EUROPE 13867/24).
Lastly, they call for emergency humanitarian aid to be increased in order to combat famine and support human rights defenders on the ground.
See the resolution: https://aeur.eu/f/lzp (Original version in French Justine Manaud)