A group of Afghan women protesters and journalists has delivered an official letter to Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s Foreign Minister, urging her to continue supporting vulnerable refugees and not suspend asylum admissions based on gender. These women emphasized that the dire conditions in Afghanistan, particularly for women and human rights activists, demand immediate international attention and action.
The letter was personally handed to Minister Baerbock on Friday, February 21. It calls on the German government to continue its support for Afghan women and human rights defenders, stressing that Afghan women, following the Taliban takeover, face systematic oppression, gender-based violence, and severe restrictions. Many are at risk of arrest, torture, and even execution due to their civil and human rights activism.
The signatories urged Annalena Baerbock to recognize the worsening humanitarian crisis and to continue Germany’s protective policies, ensuring that women seeking asylum are not abandoned. They emphasized Germany’s ethical and legal responsibility toward persecuted refugees, particularly women facing oppression, and called for reinforced humanitarian policies. The letter warns that any reduction or suspension of the asylum process for vulnerable refugees would endanger thousands of women’s lives.
Beyond Germany, the petitioning women also called on the international community to take urgent, concrete measures to help Afghan women escape the crisis. They argued that asylum rights for persecuted women should not be reduced to a political debate, but rather, be treated as a humanitarian and legal priority.
A passage from the letter states:
“With deep concern and urgency, we bring to your attention the dire situation faced by Afghan journalists, human rights activists, and women who sought refuge in Pakistan after the Taliban’s takeover. These individuals—who once stood for freedom, justice, and human dignity—are now being arrested, detained, and threatened with deportation to a country where death awaits them.”
The letter highlights Germany’s pivotal role in supporting vulnerable refugees, emphasizing that German government decisions will have a direct impact on the fate of thousands of Afghan women and human rights defenders.
The signatories warned that many female protesters, journalists, civil society activists, and human rights advocates living in Afghanistan face imminent threats due to their gender and activism. They stressed that if Western nations, particularly Germany, stop accepting asylum applications, these women will be left defenseless against the Taliban.
In conclusion, the letter calls for stronger global support for Afghan women and the implementation of specific policies to ensure their safe resettlement in secure countries. It urges Germany’s Foreign Minister to consider the emergency and exceptional circumstances facing Afghan women when shaping Germany’s immigration policies.
