In response to the Taliban’s increasing restrictions on women and girls, including the newly enacted morality law, a group of women in Spain has launched a petition urging their government to bring the issue before the International Criminal Court.
Political scientist Cristina Monge shared details of the initiative on her social media platform, ‘X,’ explaining that it was organized by the women of Más Democracia, a citizen-led political group aiming to influence institutions, parties, and public opinion to enhance democratic participation.
The petition calls on the International Criminal Court to classify the Taliban’s treatment of Afghan women and girls as a “crime against humanity.” The letter states, “Those responsible for the more than 100 rules and edicts that oppress Afghan women and girls must be tried and held accountable for their actions.” Monge noted that the petition garnered more than 1,000 signatures within hours of its launch. The petition’s organizers, identifying themselves as “Spanish women with a voice and rights,” also urge the Spanish government to lead international efforts to condemn the institutionalized violence against Afghan women and implement concrete measures to eradicate such abuses and guarantee the rights of all women and girls.
The letter highlights the dire situation faced by Afghan women and girls, describing them as living “under a regime of repression that violates their most basic human rights, where they suffer oppression, violence, harassment, and constant humiliation.” The petition calls on public authorities and international organizations worldwide to take decisive action against these violations, stating, “They should take a stand and not allow this violation of the fundamental rights of women and girls to continue simply because they are women. These practices against Afghan women undoubtedly constitute a crime against humanity under Article 7 of the Rome Statute and, as requested by the United Nations Rapporteur, should be recognized as gender apartheid.”
The petition follows the Taliban’s recent announcement of a new law, known as the Law on Commanding the Right, which bans women’s voices from being heard outside their homes. The law has sparked widespread domestic and international condemnation.
