Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has strongly criticized the European Union's decision to invite representatives of the Taliban government to Brussels for discussions on a migration deal. In a video shared on Instagram, the 28-year-old activist said she was "shaken and deeply disturbed" by the EU's move, describing it as an attempt to normalize a regime that has institutionalized gender-based oppression.

Yousafzai listed the Taliban's escalating restrictions on women and girls, including bans on secondary education, forced marriages, and public floggings. She referenced recent events in Herat where dozens of women were arrested for violating dress codes. "This is the same Taliban that bans girls from schools, forces women into marriage, and detains, beats, and executes those who speak out," she said. She labeled the systematic mistreatment as "gender apartheid."

The EU’s decision to engage with the Taliban comes amid growing pressure to address migration from Afghanistan. Since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, thousands of Afghans have fled, seeking asylum in Europe and neighboring countries. The EU has been exploring ways to deport failed asylum seekers and individuals deemed security threats. On June 23, Taliban officials are scheduled to meet with EU representatives to discuss the return of Afghan nationals who have been denied asylum.

Yousafzai argued that such diplomatic engagement legitimizes a regime that has committed some of the worst human rights abuses in the modern world. "Europe must not legitimize a regime responsible for one of the worst human rights crises in the world," she urged. She called on EU leaders to ensure that any engagement with the Taliban is conditional on the restoration of women's rights.

Background on Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai was born in Mingora, Pakistan, in 1997. She became an advocate for girls' education at an early age, writing a blog for the BBC Urdu service under a pseudonym. In 2012, she was shot in the head by Taliban gunmen while returning from school. She survived and continued her activism, co-founding the Malala Fund to support girls' education worldwide. In 2014, she became the youngest Nobel laureate at age 17. She has since become a global symbol of resistance against the suppression of women's rights.

Her denunciation of the EU-Taliban talks carries significant moral weight. Having personally survived a Taliban assassination attempt, she is intimately familiar with the group's ideology and methods. Her stance reflects broader concerns among human rights organizations that engaging with the Taliban without preconditions undermines years of advocacy for Afghan women.

The Taliban's Human Rights Record

After retaking control of Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban imposed a harsh interpretation of Sharia law. Women were barred from most public life, including employment, education beyond primary level, and travel without a male guardian. The regime also restored public executions and floggings, enforced strict dress codes, and dismantled institutions for women's protection.

In 2022, the Taliban ordered all girls' secondary schools to close, reversing earlier promises to allow education. Universities were also closed to women. In 2023, they banned women from working for NGOs and the United Nations. The regime has also cracked down on protests and detained activists. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented widespread abuses, including torture, arbitrary detention, and forced marriages.

The international community has largely refused to formally recognize the Taliban government, but several countries have maintained diplomatic channels. The EU's decision to hold migration talks marks one of the highest-profile engagements since the takeover. Critics argue that this normalization undermines the principle of conditionality and sends a signal that human rights can be disregarded in exchange for cooperation on migration control.

Migration and Asylum Context

Since 2021, over 1.6 million Afghans have fled the country, with many seeking refuge in Europe. The EU has faced pressure from member states to manage the flow of irregular migrants. In 2023, the EU recorded a significant increase in Afghan asylum applications, adding strain on asylum systems.

The proposed migration deal aims to facilitate the return of Afghans whose asylum claims have been rejected. EU officials claim it targets only individuals with criminal records or those deemed security threats. However, human rights groups warn that returning any Afghans to Taliban rule could subject them to persecution, especially if they have been critical of the regime.

Fereshta Abbasi, an Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch, argued that the priority should be protecting human rights, not deporting people to danger. "This meeting sends a terrible message to Afghan women and girls who are already living under fear," she said.

Reactions and Criticism

Yousafzai's statement was widely shared on social media, drawing support from activists and politicians. Several EU lawmakers also voiced concern. The European Commission, however, defended the meeting, saying it does not imply formal recognition. Spokesperson Markus Lammert said the talks are purely operational to address migration challenges.

Nevertheless, critics point out that the Taliban have shown no willingness to change their policies. In fact, they have intensified restrictions in recent months. Engaging with them without clear benchmarks for human rights improvements risks empowering the regime while offering no benefit to Afghan women.

Yousafzai’s call echoes the stance of many rights organizations: that any dialogue must prioritize the demands of Afghan women and girls. She concluded her video by saying, "All engagement with the Taliban must begin and end with the rights of Afghan women."

Source: MSN News