Stop the Norwegian Government’s and other Western Government’s meeting and dealing with The Taliban

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23rd January 2022  IFIR Press release: Urgent call to all Humanitarian and Refugee Rights Organisations to:

Stop the Norwegian Government’s and other Western Government’s meeting and dealing with The Taliban
 A Taliban delegation is in Norway, Oslo, and talks are planned with the Norwegian authorities and other Western Officials for the next three days, to the 23/01/22.Let us be clear and remind ourselves that the Taliban are a terrorist organisation who regained control of Afghanistan on August 15th 2021, as a consequence of US and allies withdrawal from Afghanistan.  
The return of the Taliban to power is a humanitarian catastrophe for all innocent civilians in Afghanistan but is most hazardous for women who are being denied education; there are presently reports of harassment and ‘disappearance’ of female activists, lawyers, judges, and teachers.  The Taliban in power is a constant threat to all humanitarian, civilian and libertarian values – this threat creates a refugee crisis, with people fleeing the Taliban’s tyranny in terror.  Thus the Middle East and European countries will have to manage an increase in refugees due to the Taliban’s barbaric control of Afghanistan.
 The International Federation of Iraqi Refugees (IFIR) totally condemns the meeting between the Norwegian Government and the Taliban. We urge Norway and other Western Governments to not meet, deal or make deals with the Taliban, and thus not legitimise the Taliban as an official government. The Norwegian and Western governments attending these talks should instead seek to help the Afghani people through Women Rights Organisations, civil society activists, and human rights defenders in Afghanistan.
 IFIR calls upon all Human Rights and Refugee Rights Organisations across the world not to allow the Norwegian government and other Western governments to legitimise the Taliban.  

The Secretary of IFIR Dashty Jamal Said:
 “Norway and Western governments must support the humanitarian grounds of refugees and displaced people at the hands of the Taliban and give them the rights to apply for asylum in Norway and EU.”
 Dashty Jamal also said:

“This meeting only goes towards recognition of the Taliban as a government, and the Norwegian and Western Governments should not be taking part in discussions with them.  Instead, efforts should be made to relegate the Taliban at national and international levels. There are alternative ways of supporting the people of Afghanistan, these are through women’s rights organisations, civil society activists and human rights organisations in Afghanistan.”
 Finally, Dashty Jamal said: ” The Norwegian people are part of a tolerant and humanitarian society that has extended its assistance to the disadvantaged and provided humanitarian aid in the past, and I urge you to ensure your government helps those fleeing Afghanistan for asylum application in Norway.”

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