European Parliament Condemns Taliban’s Treatment of Women as ‘Gender Apartheid’

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution condemning the treatment of women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, labeling it as “gender apartheid” and calling for its recognition as a crime against humanity, Amu TV reported yesterday.

The resolution, passed with 565 votes in favor, 8 against, and 43 abstentions, demands an end to the systematic exclusion of women from public life, highlighting the alarming deterioration of conditions for women and girls following the Taliban’s enforcement of Sharia law.

The Parliament expressed deep concern over recent decrees that further restrict women’s rights, including their access to education, employment, and public spaces. It condemned extreme abuses such as forced marriages, sexual violence, flogging, and stoning faced by Afghan women. The resolution praised the bravery of Afghan women and expressed solidarity with their ongoing struggle.

Additionally, the European Parliament called on the European Union to advocate for the recognition of gender apartheid and urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the Taliban’s actions. It also recommended establishing an independent U.N. investigative mechanism to hold the Taliban accountable. The resolution emphasized the need for new EU sanctions against the regime and criticized nations that have normalized relations with the Taliban, while urging increased humanitarian aid for Afghan civil society.