Afghan Diplomatic Missions Condemn Crackdown on Herat Protesters

DID Press: The Coordination Council of Afghanistan’s Diplomatic and Consular Missions has strongly condemned the reported suppression of peaceful protests by women in Herat, describing the actions as a serious violation of human rights and calling for the immediate and unconditional release of those detained.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the council said the crackdown reflected what it described as a broader pattern of restrictions against women and girls in Afghanistan. The statement characterized the events in Herat as part of a systematic effort to limit women’s participation in public life.

The council also expressed concern over reports of intimidation, the detention of individuals accompanying injured protesters to hospitals, and the use of force against demonstrators. According to the statement, such actions undermine fundamental rights and weaken prospects for a peaceful, inclusive, and stable Afghanistan.

Referring to recent discussions at the United Nations Security Council, the council urged the international community, the United Nations, and the European Union not to overlook human rights concerns in their engagement with the Taliban authorities.

The statement stressed that the treatment of women and the response to peaceful protests should remain central considerations in international discussions concerning Afghanistan.

Concluding its remarks, the council said lasting peace and stability can only be achieved through respect for human rights, accountability for abuses, and meaningful participation by all citizens, particularly women, in the country’s future.