Samira Hamidi: "Tourists are a propaganda machine for the Taliban"

BarcelonaSamira Hamidi, 46, can't stop the tears from her eyes when she recalls that one of her brothers died suddenly in Germany a few weeks ago, and that she couldn't attend the funeral because she didn't have a visa. She's Amnesty International's Afghanistan representative, lives in London, has worked for the European Union and the UN, and is a prominent human rights defender, but she, like so many other Afghans, is also carrying a personal tragedy. She is clear that the international community cannot in any way legitimize the Taliban regime, and that we must fight for the rights of Afghan women.

What news about women in Afghanistan has had the most impact on you?

— That they are prohibited from studying medicine and nursing. If new professionals don't graduate, who will care for women? It's the most senseless decision the Taliban have ever made. Currently, in Afghanistan, there are very few female doctors, nurses, and assistants.

And I guess a doctor can't treat a woman.

— The Taliban don't allow it. Any relationship with men is considered illegitimate.

But why is no one interested in Afghanistan now?

— I think there are several factors. The main one is that the international community doesn't want to acknowledge that it failed in Afghanistan. It invested in women and human rights for twenty years, and everything it achieved vanished in an instant. The second reason is that there are other conflicts that are taking center stage, like Gaza and Ukraine, and Afghanistan is considered a non-priority because there is no longer a war. There is a silent recognition and normalization of the Taliban, and this is irresponsible.

Now there are even tourists going to Afghanistan.

— Tourists are a propaganda machine for the Taliban. They use them to show that Afghanistan is now safe and that there is no more war. It's logical that there aren't any because they, who were the terrorists who blew themselves up with explosive devices, are now in power. I don't think the Taliban would allow anyone into the country who wants to report on human rights violations. Why don't tourists speak up when they come with an Afghan girl who is prohibited from studying, or a woman who is sick and has no doctor to care for her?

Many take selfies with the Taliban.

— I don't blame them. Tourists aren't Afghans, and they can't hear what we feel.

What do relatives who remain in Afghanistan tell you?

— They talk about poverty, fear, and that they have no choice but to accept the Taliban. They fear being accused of something they didn't do, being followed, or being seen with someone who worked for the previous government. People live in an atmosphere of fear and, for example, have two cell phones: one with social media and WhatsApp, and another one of those old Nokias they use when they go out.

How to change this situation?

— The Taliban are committing human rights violations with complete impunity. Amnesty International and other organizations are advocating for the establishment of an accountability mechanism within the United Nations Human Rights Council to pressure the Taliban, including travel bans and individual sanctions.

And this is enough?

— The Taliban don't want Afghan women activists to speak out or gain visibility. We must continue to give Afghan women a voice and remind the world what's happening in Afghanistan. Within the country, there are many women working and have opened schools clandestinely. These women want to speak out, to propose solutions, but no one takes them into account.

There used to be a network of women's associations called the Afghan Women's Network. What happened to them?

— Many associations have had to transform and focus on humanitarian aid. Unfortunately, they can't do what they used to do, which was raise awareness and defend women's rights, because the Taliban were going to close them down.

Why don't people rebel against the Taliban?

— If they did, they'd be killed. People fear for their lives, and there are also people who support the Taliban. In fact, I fear an increase in radicalism in Afghanistan, especially among young people. There are more and more madrasas. When these boys grow up, they won't have any respect for women.