The campaign group “Implement the İstanbul Convention” took action outside Süreyya Opera House in Kadıköy, Istanbul with the slogan “Our solidarity has no borders” in support of women and LGBTI+ people living under Taliban forces in Afghanistan, Jin news reported.
Slogans like, “We stand with the women of Afghanistan fighting for their rights”, “Our solidarity has no borders”, “We will destroy your misogynistic administration that supports the Taliban!”, “The United States, the EU, the UN, the international community caused the war… We will win with our own power” were written on banners and placards that the women carried at the protest.
The press statement was read out both in Turkish and in Persian.
“The Taliban came to power following the destructive policies of the USA in Afghanistan. The screams of women that their lives are in danger under the Taliban regime in Afghanistan are being heard all over the world. Women, children, LGBTI+, artists, scientists, human rights defenders… In short, the lives of anyone who is anti-Taliban are in danger in Afghanistan now,” said the statement. “From Pakistan to China, from Iran to Russia, and the powers of the region too are working out how to use this new situation to their own regional interest.”
In the statement the women also criticised the role of the Turkish government.
“Turkey was involved in the invasion operation from the very beginning under the NATO umbrella. Now Erdogan states that ‘we are in contact with the Taliban’. Those pursuing these policies of occupation and war are responsible for the destruction in Afghanistan and the crimes that the Taliban regime have committed and will commit. Imperialism is responsible for this destruction and has nothing to promise the country.”
The women called on President Erdogan:
“No negotiations, no agreements can be made with the Taliban, who consider the female body spoils of war. Do not negotiate with, do not legitimise and do not recognise the Taliban, who threaten the lives of Afghan women!”
The protestors also remembered the resistance of Yazidi women when ISIS seized Sinjar in 2014:
“Just as we stood with the Yazidi women who resisted ISIS, we now stand with the Afghan women who resist the Taliban, we see from the continuing resistance of the women in the street protests against the Taliban, that they will be the pioneers in this struggle. We call all women to solidarity with the women of Afghanistan.”
