In recent years, Europe has consistently presented itself as a defender of human rights, freedom, and human dignity. However, today, the behavior of some European countries toward Afghanistan has raised serious questions about that image.
After the fall of the previous government and the return of the Taliban to power, Afghanistan entered one of the darkest periods in its modern history. Millions of people were faced with insecurity, poverty, unemployment, and uncertainty. Women were deprived of their most basic rights. The right to education, the right to work, and even the ability to participate freely in society were taken away from them. In such conditions, many Afghans were forced to leave their country and, in search of safety and a better future, turned to migration.
But now, the same countries that once spoke about human rights are acting differently. Reports indicate that some European countries are seeking ways to forcibly return Afghan refugees. This is happening while the situation inside Afghanistan has not improved and, in many cases, has worsened.
The remarks of Hannah Neumann, a member of the European Parliament, reflect these concerns. She strongly criticized the planning of a Taliban delegation visit to Brussels and warned that such actions could lead to a major humanitarian disaster. This raises a critical question: how is it possible that while women in Afghanistan are deprived of education and basic freedoms, there is an effort to create space for dialogue with representatives of the same system in the heart of Europe?
It is also important to remember that the current humanitarian crisis did not emerge in isolation. The withdrawal of North Atlantic Treaty Organization forces in August 2021 did not leave Afghanistan in a stable or secure condition. The rapid collapse of institutions and the return of Taliban rule created the very conditions that forced millions to flee. In this sense, European countries, many of which were part of that mission, carry a share of responsibility for the displacement of Afghan people. The migration seen today is not incidental; it is directly tied to the consequences of that withdrawal.
The people who have left Afghanistan are not merely economic migrants. Many of them are wounded, fearful, and vulnerable. They have fled war, restrictions, and the absence of any future. Forcing these individuals to return to conditions that remain unsafe and inhumane is not only a political decision but also a profound moral responsibility.
If Europe truly believes in the values it claims to uphold, it must reconsider its policies. Dialogue with the Taliban may be a political reality, but it must not come at the cost of ignoring the rights of the Afghan people, especially women.
Today, the fundamental question is this:
Is Europe standing with the people of Afghanistan, or is it making a deal with a reality it once criticized?
Noor Wodjouatt
