Concerns Regarding ISOA's Recent Engagement with the Taliban's Gender Apartheid Regime 

To: International Stability Operations Association (ISOA) 1725 I Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, D.C. 20006 

September 15 ,2023 

We, the undersigned, supporters, and defenders of Afghanistan’s women, write to urge the International Stability Operations Association (ISOA) to clarify their stance on the critical issue of women’s rights and gender apartheid situation in Afghanistan. 

Our grave concern arises from an ISOA advisory board member's visit to Kabul, where they participated at an event organized by the Afghan American Chamber of Commerce aimed at fostering economic relations with the Taliban’s gender apartheid regime. The visuals from this visit, depicting association with UN-blacklisted Taliban officials, deeply troubled us. Our concern has intensified further as ISOA and its president publicly endorsed and promoted this visit through a LinkedIn post, which appears nothing short of PR for the Taliban, starkly contradicting ISOA's mission to promote human rights, peace, security, and global stability. This act is in clear violation of the ISOA’s Code of Conduct version 13.2 specifically, the article that reads, “Members will be guided by all pertinent rules of international humanitarian and human rights laws, including those set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948).” Engaging in any form of business with a regime that has not been recognized by any nation or country, and has been accused of human rights violations by the United Nations contradicts the principles of the UDHR 1948. Such actions have legal consequences for your institution and can also lead to reputational risks, undermining the credibility of ISOA. 
The stakes are high, and there is no middle ground. Any collaboration with the Taliban and endorsement of their draconian policies that undermine fundamental human rights, democracy, and pluralism in Afghanistan contributes to the unnecessary lobbying and legitimacy of the Taliban's despotic regime. 

Your organization has previously demonstrated commendable commitment to women's rights, peace, and security by hosting events that foster support for Afghanistan’s women. The loyalty ISOA member companies and their employees showed to the Afghan people and Afghan women, even when it meant putting yourselves in harm's way, will not be forgotten. This loyalty continues with the collective support for evacuation and resettlement efforts that began on August 15, 2021 and continues to the present day. We also thank those ISOA members and their employees in the group who deliver much needed humanitarian aid and basic services to keep our friends and family alive, which we strongly support, despite the significant benefits the Taliban gets and takes from these activities. However, ISOA’s recent actions signal a perilous shift in focus, appearing to drift away from its commitment to the principles of Women, Peace and Security agenda of the United Nations, and instead fostering ties with a regime marred by gender apartheid. 

We immediately call upon ISOA to communicate its position on the critical situation of women's rights in Afghanistan. This appeal also includes a request for an in-depth review of ISOA's leadership and policy course. During this unprecedented humanitarian crisis, neutrality is unacceptable and unsustainable. A firm stance, recognising the gravity of the current situation in Afghanistan, is a necessary step that the ISOA leadership must take and act upon. 

We anticipate a response that embodies a profound commitment to the principles of human rights, persistently championing the rights of women, and promotes peace, and security. 

Sincerely, Signatures: 

Abdul Mujeeb Khalvatgar, Journalist
Abdullah Khodadad, Former Diplomat, Political Activist 
Ahmad Faisal Natawan, Engineer Ahmad ferdaws Ariayee, Activist

Ahmad Zia Ferozpur, Journalist Aliye Yilmaz, Activist 

Amina Zia Massoud, Former Diplomat

Ambassador M. Ashraf Haidari
Annie Pforzheimer, Former Deputy Chief of Mission, US Embassy Kabul
Anarkali Honaryar, Former Member of Parliament Angela Ghayour, Founder of Herat Online School Ariana Delaweri, Activist
Asar Hakimi, Activist
Aziz Dildar, Film Producer and Actor

Bahar Mehr, Activist
Barakat Rahmati, Former Diplomat, Activist
Basir Ahang, Journalist

Chris Blackburn, Political Analyst

Crystal Bayat, Human Rights Activist

COL Jack Kuttas, U.S. Army (Retired)
Dena Khodadad, Activist
Dr. Homeira Qaderi, Human Rights Activist
Dr. Mirways Bahawi

Dr. Mir Sadat
Dr. Mohaiuddin Mahdi, Former Member of Parliament

Dr. Mujib Rahimi, Academic
Dr. Sahra Karimi, Film Producer and Director
Dr. Weeda Mehran 
Dr. Zalmai Nishat, Programme Lead at Tony Blair Institute for Global Change Ehssanullah Aghbar, Peace and Sports Advocate
Ejaz Malikzada, Activist
Fahim Ebrat, Former Diplomat Fahim Kohdamani, Former Diplomat, Activist Fardin Barmakai, Former Diplomat
Farhad Farewar, Medical Doctor
Farhat Ariana Azami, Social Worker Fariha Easar, Activist

Fahimeh Robiolle, Lecturer and Vice President the club France-Afghanistan
Fatima Roshanian, Founder and Director of Nimrokh Media Gulchehra Yaftali, Activist

Fazl Karim Aymaq, Former Member of Parliament 
Habib Fatah, Activist
Hakim Asher, Medical Doctor
Hashmat Radfar, Freedom Fighter

Haanya Malik, Journalist

Henry L. Rowland II, Attorney

Hoda Khamosh, Human Rights Activist
Ibad Rasoli, Medical Doctor
Jamil Sherzad, Activist
Jamshid Yama Amiri, Journalist and Writer
Jan Agha Jasim, Activist
Kalimullah Hamsukhan, Social Activist 
Kawa Jobran, University Professor and Novelist Khaled Qaderi - Activist
Khalida Saleh, Activist
Korosh Parwa, Activist

Kumayl Yusuf Nazary, Activist
M. Ashraf Haidari, Ambassador
M. Edris Lutfi, Activist

Major Jason Criss Howk, USA Retired
Malik Shams, Afg. Liberty Party Leader
Mariam Hamidi, Environmental Engineer
Massoud Hossaini, Photojournalist, pulitzer award winner Mina Sharif, Activist 

Mir Sadat, Activist
Mirwais Bahawi, Medical Doctor
Mohammad Arif Nishat, Activist

Mohebullah Noori, Political Activist 
Mohammad Zahir Aghbar, Afghanistan’s ambassador - Dushanbe Tajikistan Mohebullah Babak, Activist
Mujib Ebrahimi, Civil Society Activist, Journalist and Writer
Mustafa Kohistani, Activist
Naheed Farid, Former Member of the Parliament
Nasir Kaihan, Human Rights Activist 
Nasratullah Iqbal, Journalist
Natiq Malikzada, Activist
Nazari Paryani, Editor-in-Chief of Mandegar Daily
Nigara Mirdad, Political Counselor in Afghanistan Embassy Warsaw-Poland Nilofar Ayoubi, Activist
Nilofar Moradi, Journalist
Noorullah Hakemi, Activist
Obaidullah Mahdi, Political Activist
Omid Kamal, Former Diplomat
Parwana Ebrahimkhel Nejrabi, Women Rights Activist
Ramesh, Noori, Professor and Vice-Chancellor of Pamos Academy, South Korea Ramin Anwari, Journalist

Ronald L Smith, CDR/USN (ret)

Roya Sadat,Film Producer and Director
Sayed Maisam Wahidi, Phd Fellow
Seyar Baqai, Activist

Seemeen Mahdi, Activist

Scott Cooper, USMC Retired

Shabnam Shahpar, Psychologist
Shafi Karimi, Journalist
Shafiq Sharq, Political Activist
Shagofah Ghafori, Activist
Shaira Karimi, Researcher and Socio-Political Activist 
Shaker Hayat, Law Professor
Shiwaye Sharq, Political Activist
Shoaib Rahim, Academic

Shuja Jamal, University Lecturer
Sibghatullah Ahmadi, Former Diplomat and Political Activist Sidiqullah Tauhidi, Journalist 

Sikandar Shuja, Former Diplomat
Sodaba Azizi, Activist
Sulaiman Ghalib, Activist
Sulaiman Moradi, Former Diplomat
Tamana Zaryab Paryani, Human Rights Activist

Toghian Zafari, Activist

Tooba Lutfi, Social Activist
Yalda Royan, Women Rights Activist

Yourish Aghbar, Former Diplomat
Zabih Mahdi, PhD. Candidate, Gahwara
Zahra Karimi, Journalist and Women Rights Activist Zahra Mousawi, Journalist and Researcher
Zaki Nadry, Activist
Zala Zazai, Activist
Zarlasht Haidary, Paralegal and Women Rights Activist Zarqa Yaftalai, Human Rights Activist 
Zia Afzali, Journalist 

References:
Here are a short list of the Taliban criminal policies that have been documented by Human 

Rights Watch that violate women’s rights in Afghanistan: 

●  1996-2001: During their previous rule, the Taliban banned women from working outside their homes, attending school, or leaving their homes without a male guardian 2. 
●  August 17, 2021: The Taliban announced that women would be allowed to work in some sectors, but only if they wore hijabs and were segregated from men 3. 
●  August 18, 2021: The Taliban ordered female bank employees to stay home until the group could determine how to segregate them from male colleagues 3. 
●  August 22, 2021: The Taliban banned co-education in universities and ordered that classrooms be segregated by gender 3. 
●  September 7, 2021: The Taliban announced that women would be banned from playing sports 3. 
●  September 11, 2021: The Taliban announced that women would be banned from appearing on television or in public events 3. 
●  September 12, 2021: The Taliban announced that women would be banned from working at beauty salons 3. 
●  September 14, 2021: The Taliban announced that women would be banned from working at banks 3. 
●  September 26, 2021: The Taliban announced that women would be banned from teaching male students above the age of eight 3. 
●  March 08 2023 According to a report by the United Nations, the Taliban’s recent actions targeting women and girls “should be investigated as gender persecution” 1. The report also 
states that “violations of women and girls’ fundamental rights and freedoms in Afghanistan, already the most severe and unacceptable in the world, have sharply increased” 1. 

Issued by the Afghanistan Changed Network, a coalition of globally engaged human rights activists, academics, politicians, diplomats, artists, and concerned individuals.