In Madrid, Spain, a group of migrants from Afghanistan—including journalists and civil society activists—gathered to mark the fourth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power. The demonstrators demanded that the Taliban not be recognized internationally, that the group’s gender apartheid be confronted, and that support be given to press freedom and journalists. They also called for the prosecution of Taliban leaders.
In a statement, the protesters accused the Taliban of committing genocide, arguing that the group has deliberately sought to annihilate segments of society based on ethnic, religious, cultural, or social identity by abusing political power.
They further condemned the Taliban’s “systematic actions”—including forced displacement, cultural suppression, and identity erasure—and urged international bodies to hold the group accountable.
The statement described Afghanistan since August 15, 2021, as a repressive state where political participation, freedom of expression, women’s rights, and the dignity of minorities are structurally violated.
Protesting women emphasized that the Taliban is inherently “terroristic, undemocratic, and systematically violative of human rights,” urging the global community to refrain from any formal engagement with the regime.
They demanded the unconditional release of all women imprisoned solely for exercising their right to free expression, peaceful protest, or civil activism. According to the protesters, these women face daily humiliation and inhumane treatment.
The statement also called on the Spanish government, the European Commission, and relevant institutions to prioritize visa processing for immediate family members of refugees—particularly those facing the threat of forced deportation in Iran.
The group urged the United Nations and international monitoring agencies to document the “forced displacement and targeted harassment” of residents in central Afghanistan, as well as the “systematic land grabs” taking place across the country. They demanded the deployment of independent fact-finding missions to halt what they described as discriminatory and destabilizing policies.
The protesters appealed to Spain, the European Union, and international institutions to increase political, media, financial, and protective support for journalists, human rights defenders, civil society activists, and other migrants from Afghanistan.
They also warned that individuals attempting to legitimize the Taliban under cultural or religious pretexts must be closely monitored.
This demonstration was one of many held by Afghanistan’s diaspora across the globe to mark the fourth anniversary of the Taliban’s seizure of power.
