People’s Tribunal in Madrid; Taliban Accused of Crimes Against Humanity and Systematic Elimination of Afghan Women

Image: Public Tribunal for the women of Afghanistan

On the second day of the People’s Tribunal for Afghan Women, held on Thursday (October 9) in Madrid, Spain, prosecutors and witnesses spoke about the widespread violations of women’s rights and the rights of vulnerable groups under Taliban rule.

Benafsha Yaqoubi, one of the prosecutors at the tribunal, said that the Taliban have completely ignored the rights of persons with disabilities, leaving many of them confined to their homes. She added, “Those who are blind or physically disabled remain trapped within the four walls of their houses. There is no support or service for them, and the Taliban have even restricted aid to this group.”

Yaqoubi referred to a shocking case in which a girl with a disability was forced into marriage and, after her husband’s death, now lives with her children in difficult conditions.

In the same session, Orzala Nemat, another prosecutor at the tribunal, emphasized the widespread deprivation of women from healthcare services. She said, “Women are not allowed to visit medical centers without a male guardian, and the shortage of female doctors has made the situation worse.” She added that in many villages, women resort to suicide due to psychological pressure and lack of healthcare.

The organizers of the tribunal said that the aim of holding it is to document the Taliban’s crimes, seek justice for the victims, and confront the global silence regarding the systematic oppression of Afghan women.

It is worth noting that the first day of the tribunal was held on Wednesday (October 8).

At the opening session, Shaharzad Akbar, head of the Rawadari organization, said that the purpose of this tribunal is to break the global silence surrounding the suffering of Afghan women and to provide a platform for them to share their experiences. She added, “This court is a struggle for justice and accountability. Women victims must be able to share their stories freely and without fear.”

On the first day, several protesting women and former Taliban prisoners testified.

Parwana Ebrahimkhil, one of the detained protesting women, said that the Taliban tortured her on charges of “espionage, promoting Western values, and indecency” and even intended to stone her. She said, “Even now, the scars from the Taliban’s beatings remain on my head, and I am still suffering from them.”

Atifa Hamidi, another former Taliban prisoner, said that the Taliban tortured her because of her ethnicity and gender. She added, “After the torture, the Taliban gave me sedatives. They repeatedly threatened to kill me, and the marks of torture are still visible on my body.”

At the end of the first day, the tribunal’s prosecutors released the full indictment against the Taliban. The document accuses senior Taliban leaders, including Hibatullah Akhundzada, Sirajuddin Haqqani, Mohammad Yaqub, Abdul Ghani Baradar, Nida Mohammad Nadeem, and Khalid Hanafi, of committing crimes against humanity and gender-based discrimination.

The indictment emphasizes that the Taliban’s policies against women are deliberate, extensive, and organized, aiming at the complete elimination of women from Afghanistan’s educational, social, economic, and civil spheres.

The organizers of the People’s Tribunal have said that this process is an opportunity to record the truth and pursue justice and that it symbolizes global solidarity in defense of Afghan women’s rights.