The Taliban in Afghanistan has intensified its systematic oppression of women and girls, with recent regulations legalizing slavery and child marriage, while a bird receives more legal protection than a woman. Former Afghan deputy speaker Fawzia Koofi condemns the EU's invitation of Taliban officials to Brussels as a devastating betrayal.
Five Years of Deterioration
After nearly five years of Taliban rule, life for Afghan women has worsened dramatically. Schools for girls beyond sixth grade remain closed, while thousands of religious schools operate without restrictions. Women are banned from becoming doctors, leading to skyrocketing maternal and infant mortality. Exclusion from the job market has forced many women to beg on the streets.
New Regulations Enshrine Oppression
The Taliban's recent penal code legalizes slavery, allowing men to enslave and punish women. A regulation on "separation of spouses" legalizes girl child marriage. The criminal courts procedure, signed on 4 January 2026, divides society into four classes, with discretionary punishments differing accordingly. Article 4, Part 5, delegates punitive authority to husbands or owners, reducing women to commodities.
Under Article 32, a husband who beats his wife causing fractures or bruises faces only 15 days imprisonment if she proves her claim. Meanwhile, Article 70 stipulates five months in prison for harming a bird or animal. This legal disparity underscores the Taliban's intent: a bird is better protected than a woman.
Gender Apartheid as a Crime
Afghanistan exemplifies gender apartheid—systematic oppression by one gender over another. Codifying it as a crime under international law would establish a clear standard to address state-sanctioned repression globally. Afghan women experience apartheid daily, lacking access to justice due to the absence of female judges, prosecutors, and protective laws.
EU Invitation: A Slap in the Face
Koofi urges EU member states to codify gender apartheid, end impunity, and stand with Afghan women. She calls for universal jurisdiction laws to address gender apartheid in Afghanistan. The EU-sponsored Independent Investigative Mechanism for Afghanistan, adopted only a year ago, makes the invitation of Taliban officials to Brussels feel like a devastating betrayal.
Engagement without accountability risks legitimizing oppression. Afghan women need courage and commitment, not symbolic solidarity. The human rights catastrophe in Afghanistan will affect regional and global security if left unaddressed.
