The Purple Saturdays Movement, a women’s rights advocacy group, has called for Taliban officials to be brought to justice, citing Amnesty International’s findings on alleged crimes committed by the group.
In a statement, the movement urged international institutions to end the culture of impunity in Afghanistan and hold Taliban leaders accountable.
Members specifically demanded the prosecution of Taliban leaders, including Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is listed as a terrorist by the U.N. and several countries, including the U.S. FBI.
“We urge the U.S. to arrest Sirajuddin Haqqani, who has a $10 million bounty on his head,” the statement read.
The movement also called on the international community and regional countries to keep the Taliban on the list of terrorist organizations. It urged the people of Afghanistan to speak out against “sexual assault, looting of property, and occupation of homes and crimes against humanity” perpetrated by the Taliban.
“We once again call on the international community to support an alternative to the self-proclaimed government of the terrorist Taliban group, which is a legitimate, democratic, and decentralized government,” the statement continued.
The movement highlighted that the Taliban has forced anti-Taliban resistance fighters to surrender by collectively punishing the people of Panjshir, arresting and torturing the families of opposition forces, and confiscating their properties.
One year ago today, Amnesty International released a report revealing that the Taliban had committed war crimes in Panjshir province. The Purple Saturdays Movement’s call for justice underscores the ongoing struggle for human rights and accountability in Afghanistan.
