Dear caring supporter,
We have been asking the Dutch government to grant humanitarian visas to 35 Afghan women human rights defenders who are at imminent risk of deportation to the Taliban. These women—journalists, activists, and educators—face imprisonment, torture, and execution if returned to Afghanistan.
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has now officially responded:
"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not decide on asylum matters. Also, the Dutch embassy does not decide on this. We advise you to contact the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND)."
💔 Translation: They are passing the responsibility to the IND, even though we already know that the IND only processes asylum claims for people who are already in the Netherlands. These women cannot even apply because they have no visa to get there.
We Cannot Let This Be Their Final Answer.
We need media attention. We need to make this refusal public.
How You Can Help Today:
✅ Share this petition and the government’s refusal with journalists.
If you know any journalists or media outlets, send them this update and ask them to cover the story.
✅ Email Dutch media outlets directly.
Here are key contacts where you can send the government’s response and ask for coverage:
- Trouw: buitenland@trouw.nl
- De Volkskrant: redactie@volkskrant.nl
- NOS: Marieke.de.Ruijter@nos.nl, Robert.Dulmers@nos.nl
- ANP (Dutch Press Agency): nieuwsdienst@anp.nl
- NRC Handelsblad: nrc@nrc.nl
- Frederike Geerdink (freelance journalist, human rights): f.geerdink@gmail.com
- Molly Quell (DutchNews.nl): molly.quell@gmail.com
- Algemeen Dagblad (AD): redactie@ad.nl
- DutchNews.nl: editor@dutchnews.nl
✅ Tag journalists on social media.
Use Twitter, LinkedIn, or Instagram and tag Dutch and international reporters who cover human rights and refugee issues.
✅ Keep on writing to politicians.
The Dutch Parliament can still intervene. Keep messaging MPs and urging them to take action.
We have already reached 708 signatures—let’s keep growing and get this to 1000 to strengthen our case!
🔗 Petition Link: https://www.change.org/35_afghan_women
We are not giving up. These women’s lives depend on it. If we stay loud, we can still get action.
#SaveAfghanWomen #ActNow #HumanRights #RefugeesWelcome #NetherlandsLeadership