We, independent Iranian women’s organizations declare our solidarity with women of Afghanistan in their struggle against the Taliban’s resurgence and their taking control of Afghanistan. We deeply share the pain and suffering that is imposed on them. Women of Afghanistan and Iran have a shared experience in confronting political Islam and suffer from the medieval oppression imposed by misogynistic and retrograde governments.
We are determined to be with them at this difficult time and to raise our voice with them against the reactionary fundamentalists and misogynists. We strongly condemn any kind of abuse and violation of human and women’s rights in the name of the law, religion, and tradition.
We condemn the recognition of the Taliban (the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan) by any country on the pretext that they have “changed” or have become “moderate” and stand by them. Taliban by recapturing political power and exertion their rule over Afghanistan have forced the young girls and women of Afghanistan into the sex slave of their foot soldiers in the name of “jihad marriage”
We in unison with the women of Afghanistan emphatically state that to be ruled by the Taliban, neither today nor before, has ever been the choice of Afghani people, especially women. We respect the right of Afghani people, in particular Afghani women, in deciding where to live and support the provision of help for them to enter and seek safe haven in other countries.
Political asylum is the right of every woman who is escaping the Taliban’s reign of terror and their medieval misogynistic rule. The unconditional recognition of their right to asylum, and transfer to safe countries which is approved by the UNHCR is one of the basic rights and should be extended to them.
The struggle of Afghani women against the reactionary political Islam and Taliban has a long history. Although in the period 1996 and 2001 they suffered extreme gender-based brutality and were denied their human and individual rights such as the right of being outdoors without male guardians, education, employment, and social activities, they courageously showed that they were able to stand up to Taliban and the patriarchal and medieval government of Afghanistan. They are now stronger and will not allow themselves and their children once more to become victims of the misogynistic and inhuman policies of the Taliban.
We, the undersigned independent Iranian women’s organizations, while protesting against the tragedies that have befallen and been imposed on women and people of Afghanistan, are expressing our solidarity with them against political Islam. We call for immediate actions by the international community in addressing the basic needs of the people of Afghanistan and ask for the support of progressive movements, feminists, and human rights organizations for the realization of this demand.
. Radio Avaye Zan ‘Sydney, Australia
Association of Iranian Women in Florence, Italy
Association of Iranian Women in Montreal
. Maanaav – LGBTQ Community – Sweden
Dallas Iranian Women Association (DIWA)
. Everyday Feminism
. Women for Sustainable Freedom & Equality
. Orange County Women Study Group
. Women Committee Against Stoning Paris, France
· Frauen Tribunal – Hannover, Germany
International Coalition Against Violence in Iran (ICAVI)
Iranian Circle of Women for International Networking (ICWIN) – Southern California
Iranian Women Activist in Exile Berlin, Germany
Iranian Women Association of Partow, Germany
Iranian-German women’s association
Iranische Frauengruppe Frankfurt, Germany
IWIN Iranian Women In Network
Left Unity of Women
No to hijab Campaign Iran- Women- Solidarity
Stop Honor Killings
The Organization for Emancipation of Women
Women and Anti-discrimination Committee of The Union for
Secular Republic in Iran
Women of Iran for Sustainable Equality
Zanan Group in Northern California
