European Parliament Calls for Recognition of Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan as a Crime Against Humanity

The resolution was passed with 565 votes in favor, eight against, and 43 abstentions in the European Parliament.

The resolution condemns the Taliban's enforcement of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice law, stating that it has further deprived Afghan women and girls of their fundamental rights and freedoms, equating the situation to "gender apartheid."

The European Parliament emphasized that the implementation of this law and other Taliban directives have resulted in the exclusion of women from public life, forced and early marriages, and their exposure to sexual violence.

Members of the European Parliament also praised the courage of Afghan women and called for new EU sanctions against the Taliban. They criticized countries that are normalizing relations with the Taliban and emphasized the importance of meaningful participation of Afghan women in international forums and negotiations.

It is worth noting that since returning to power, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on women, depriving them of the right to education and work. A month ago, Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada approved the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice law, which considers women's voices as "awrah" (something to be concealed), prohibiting them from being heard outside their homes.