Members of the European Parliament have called for concrete action against the crackdown on women in Afghanistan during a Petitions Committee hearing.
Lawmakers at the meeting criticized any normalization of ties with the Taliban administration and demanded accountability for violations of women's rights.
Margarita de la Pisa Carrion, an MEP from Spain, stated that the Taliban have turned women into second-class citizens, using legal and religious pretexts to justify repression. She urged the European Union to take tangible steps against violators of women's rights in Afghanistan.
Alvise Perez Fernandez, another Spanish lawmaker, argued that the European Commission cannot claim to defend human rights while simultaneously holding talks with Taliban officials, particularly after parliamentary votes against the group.
Former Afghan parliamentarian Baktash Siawash also addressed the meeting, emphasizing that Afghans require political courage and practical support rather than repetitive statements of concern and sympathy.
In response, Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, stated that the European Union has not recognized the Taliban. She noted that any shift in relations remains conditional on progress in human rights and women's rights, explaining that the EU presence in Kabul is solely for monitoring and engaging with Afghan society, including women.
Source: European Parliament Petitions Committee
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