Honorable Annalena Baerbock

Minister of Foreign Affairs

Federal Republic of Germany

Berlin office: Werderscher Markt 1, 10117 Berlin

 

Honorable Nancy Faeser

Minister of the Interior

Federal Republic of Germany

Alt-Moabit 140 10557 Berlin

 

Honorable Members of the German Parliament,

Deutscher Bundestag Platz der Republik 1 11011 Berlin Germany

 

Honorable President von der Leyen,

President of the European Commission

European Commission Rue de la Loi/Wetstraat 200 1049 Brussels Belgium

 

Subject: Urgent Appeal to Refrain from Issuing Visas to Taliban Representatives

Dear Honorable Ministers, Members of Parliament, and Distinguished Leaders of the European Commission and European Parliament,

We write to you as a united group representing Afghan-German diaspora organizations, human rights and women's rights activists, civil society organizations, and individuals deeply concerned about freedom, justice, and human rights.

It has come to our attention that in December,  several members of the Taliban's de facto regime are scheduled to visit Germany for various meetings, including participation in the intra-Afghan dialogue. We urgently implore you to reconsider the issuance of visas to individuals associated with the Taliban—a group notorious for its involvement in acts of terrorism and its long history of grave human rights violations, including gender apartheid, committed against millions of Afghans.

While we acknowledge the importance of fostering dialogue and pursuing peaceful solutions to conflicts, we firmly believe that dialogue should only involve parties committed to upholding human rights, democratic values, and the rights of marginalized populations, particularly women and girls. The Taliban's record of egregious violations of these principles cannot be ignored.

In light of the Taliban's persistent disregard for human rights and their continuous escalation of atrocities, granting visas to their representatives would not only contradict our shared European values but also risk lending undue legitimacy to a group responsible for terrorizing the Afghan population. It would send a message that our nations condone these violations and undermine the hard-fought progress toward democracy and human rights in Afghanistan.

By allowing members of the Taliban to enter Germany or any European country, we do not aid the Afghan people; instead, we inadvertently grant recognition to a group of terrorists who have inflicted untold suffering. We betray the women who have endured or continue to endure torture and abuse at the hands of the Taliban. We betray the girls who have been unjustly denied an education, and we betray the minority groups who suffer under this oppressive regime.

Furthermore, by allowing the Taliban to enter Germany or Europe, we dishonor the lives that Germans and Europeans lost at the hands of the Taliban in the last 20 years. We dishonor the families and friends of those whose loved ones were killed at the hands of this group.

We emphasize that no dialogue should happen with the Taliban without it being conditional upon the fulfillment of specific prerequisites related to human rights and other critical issues. Only after such conditions have been met can we consider engaging in dialogue with an inclusive group that represents the diverse political, ethnic, and religious spectrum of Afghanistan, with a minimum of 30-50% women representation.

Furthermore, we urge you to consider imposing sanctions on the travel of Taliban leaders until these preconditions are met. Sanctions will serve as a deterrent and emphasize the international community's unwavering commitment to human rights and justice.

We implore you to consider our urgent appeal and take action to ensure that our nations uphold the principles of freedom, human rights, and justice. The world is watching, and we believe that together we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of the Afghan people.

We eagerly await your response and trust that you will take the necessary steps to safeguard the values we hold dear.

Sincerely,

European Organisation for Integration e.V. (EOI)  and  the Afghan Women Coordination Body in Germany