The Purple Saturdays Movement: Interaction with the Taliban is a Continuation of Yesterday's Mistakes

The movement emphasized that for over three years, the international community has overlooked the "widespread crimes of the Taliban" and adopted interaction policies that have bolstered the group's power, worsening humanitarian crises and severe human rights violations against women, vulnerable ethnic groups, and religious minorities in Afghanistan.

The statement read: "This interaction has led to the growing boldness of the Taliban in systematic repression, organized crimes, and transforming Afghanistan into an unprecedented serious threat to global and regional peace and security."

The "Purple Saturdays" movement further stressed: "The Taliban's lobbyists are once again systematically trying to whitewash and normalize the group to pave the way for the recognition of their illegitimate government, despite the fact that the Taliban have taken no steps towards reconciliation with the Afghan people, reducing crimes, or constructive interaction with the global community."

In another part of the statement, the movement noted: "The Afghan people, especially women, express concern from within the country about the dangerous cycle of interaction and questionable dealings regarding their fate and ask the international community, the United Nations, and Taliban lobbyists: What guarantees exist that continued and increased interaction with the Taliban will not lead to worsening conditions and further emboldening of the group?"

The movement warned: "The consequences of any legitimization of the Taliban will be disastrous and irreparable. The world must not be deceived by reformist narratives or the altered facade of the Taliban; such interaction not only lack deterrence against human rights violations, especially those affecting Afghan women, but also double the risk of strengthening extremist and terrorist forces globally."

The "Purple Saturdays" movement called for the continuation of the policy of isolating the Taliban and applying maximum, effective pressure on the group. It urged the international community to stand firm and learn from past experiences to counter this growing threat and prevent the "irreversible consequences of negligence" regarding Afghanistan's humanitarian crisis.

The statement concluded: "We strongly condemn any attempt to normalize relations with the Taliban and see such efforts as the result of failed experiences and deceptive schemes by the group and its allies, which are among the main contributors to Afghanistan's current crisis."