Madrid Hosting Tribunal to Document Taliban Abuses against Women

DID Press: A three-day symbolic tribunal opened in Madrid on Wednesday to document human rights abuses against Afghanistan women under Taliban rule, bringing together activists, legal experts, and victims of gender-based violence.

The event, organized in cooperation with the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal and four Afghanistan human rights organizations, does not carry formal judicial authority but holds international moral credibility. The tribunal has previously examined war crimes in Vietnam and human rights violations in Latin American dictatorships.

Four Afghanistani prosecutors specializing in international justice and gender violence presented a comprehensive case on violations of women’s rights. A copy of the indictment was reportedly sent to the Taliban government, though no response has been received.

Former head of Afghanistan’s Independent Human Rights Commission, Shahrzad Akbar, said the tribunal’s main goal is to narrate the realities faced by women deprived of education, employment, and social participation since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.

An Indonesian religious scholar is also expected to testify, arguing that Taliban policies are inconsistent with core Islamic principles.

Dorothy Estrada Tank, a member of the UN working group on discrimination against women and girls, described the tribunal as “a unique opportunity for the voices of Afghan women to be heard” and said the testimonies can contribute to accountability and justice, even if the tribunal’s ruling is not legally binding.

The tribunal’s final findings are expected to be released in December and will be submitted to international bodies, including the UN Security Council and the European Union.