Statement in Solidarity with the Women of Afghanistan
Afghanistan, our neighboring country which we share a long history and the language is once again in the grip of the fundamentalist Taleban. We, Iranian women, who have been living under the control of the Islamic fundamentalist regime are well aware of the dire consequences for women in Afghanistan in the near future.
During the first phase of the Taleban rule in Afghanistan, women suffered immensely and were demoted to a slave sex position under their ruling. After ousting the Taleban from power in the early 21 century, women of Afghanistan found an opportunity to leave their marks in politics and the social and cultural arenas in the new era. Women who during the 6 years Taleban rule were banned to even go to school found their way into higher education, media and at the international level they became ambassadors of hope for women of the region. They opened a door to regional cooperation among women and the rest of the world.
The Campaign to Stop Honor Killings supports the struggles of Afghan women in the new era of the Taleban take over which would suppress women’s human rights and deprive them of the rights they gained before the second Taleban takeover of the country. We are in solidarity with our sisters as we know very well what might happen to the Afghan female population. We will work with them in every way to fight the outdated, fundamentalist beliefs towards women and hope to pave the way to uproot manifestations of ignorance and prejudice against race, sex, ethnicity, and for an equal and free society.
We believe that a united front comprising the Iranian and Afghan women has an utmost urgency and will work to set up such a front.
Afghan sisters, we are concerned about your situation. We are with you in every way and will be with you in the future.
