Former Afghan MP and women’s rights activist Shukria Barakzai has called for the implementation of a European Parliament resolution that condemns the systematic oppression of women in Afghanistan as “gender apartheid.” In a recent statement, she said the resolution, adopted in September 2024, stresses that relations with the Taliban should not be normalized. She urged legal bodies and advocacy groups to use it as a formal framework for action. Barakzai also called on human rights organizations to assess Afghan women’s asylum cases fairly in line with the resolution. She emphasized that supporting Afghan women is a defence of human dignity, justice, and universal human rights. The remarks come as global efforts intensify to recognize restrictions on Afghan women as “gender apartheid,” with the European Parliament resolution seen as a key legal instrument setting strict conditions for engagement.
