European Parliament Condemns Taliban’s “Criminal Procedure Regulations of the Courts”, Calls for Their Immediate Repeal

The European Parliament on Thursday, 21 May , issued a new resolution strongly condemning the Taliban government’s “Criminal Procedure Regulations of the Courts” and called for their immediate repeal. Members of the European Parliament warned in the resolution that the law could further intensify the systematic repression of women and girls in Afghanistan and impose broader restrictions on their fundamental rights and freedoms. The document further states that some provisions of these regulations, in the view of European lawmakers, provide legitimacy to measures such as “gender apartheid,” corporal punishment, and further restrictions on civil rights; actions they consider to constitute serious violations of human rights and to be inconsistent with international commitments. The European Parliament urged the Taliban to revoke the regulations and adhere to the fundamental rights of citizens, particularly women and girls. The institution also stressed the continuation of international pressure aimed at protecting human rights in Afghanistan.