Thank-you letter

This year, the condemnation of October 7th, the day of the US and its allies’ military attack on Afghanistan, was accompanied by the demand for freedom and asylum for Afghan women. The “International Committee for the Defense of Afghan Women” following the proposal of the “Spontaneous Movement of Afghan Women” launched a global campaign to appeal for asylum for protesting women wanted by the Taliban. The United States and its allies, who agreed in the February 2020 Doha agreement to return power to the Taliban, are responsible for the current hellish situation of women under the Taliban’s misogynistic regime. Granting immediate asylum to protesting women is the least right they have to compensate.

The appeal of the International Committee was welcomed in several countries of the world such as Afghanistan (Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman, Takhar, Balkh, badakhshan, Farah, Kunduz), Bangladesh (Chittagong and Dhaka), Pakistan (Lahore, Karachi, Sindh), Canada (Ottawa, Toronto), USA (Seattle, New York and San Francisco), Mexico (Mexicali and Chiapas) Martinique, Benin, Portugal, Spanish State (Bilbao), France (Paris and Auch, Avignon, Brest, Charleville, Cherbourg, Dreux, Elbeuf, Grenoble, Lille, Lisieux, Manosque, Marseille, Metz, Montpellier, Nancy, Orléans, Tours and Villeurbanne), Germany (Berlin), Italy (Torino), Norway (Oslo), Australia (Melbourne and other cities). Courageous activists successfully organized demonstrations, meetings, gatherings, protests and other lobbying initiatives. The central agenda of all these gatherings was expressing solidarity with Afghan women and asking their governments to grant immediate asylum to Afghan women.

Undoubtedly, the solidarity and support of all the activists and participants of these actions for demanding asylum for protesting women under the threat of the Taliban gives hope to women in Afghanistan. While the indifference of the international community in the last two years of Taliban rule towards the sad situation of women is shameful and reprehensible, on the contrary, the humanitarian activities and sympathy of the masses of women, men and young people with conscience all over the world in front of the deprived women of Afghanistan is admirable and inspiring.

The Spontaneous Movement of Afghan Women (SMAW) on behalf of all the deprived and suffering women of Afghanistan and those who are still in Taliban prisons or are forced to live a secret life to escape the persecution and torture of the Taliban,  thanks the leadership of “International Committee for the Defense of Afghan Women” and all the members of this committee as well as each and every person who took part in these gatherings and raised the voice of Afghan women. Just as the women of Afghanistan will not forget the dark and catastrophic events in the history of Afghanistan, they will continue to owe your sympathy, friendship and solidarity forever.

Spontaneous Movement of Afghan Women (SMAW)

October 12, 2023  Kabul, Afghanistan

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