EU faces fierce criticism over plans to host Taliban in Brussels
The European Union is facing criticism for plans to host the Taliban in Brussels, with rights campaigners and MEPs warning that the meeting risks normalising a regime that has banned girls from school and sought to erase women from public life. The meeting is expected to discuss the deportation of Afghan migrants, despite the Taliban's poor human rights record. The EU's willingness to cooperate with the Taliban has been met with outrage from some MEPs, who accuse the EU of holding a double standard.
- ▪The Taliban has banned women from speaking or showing their faces outside their home since 2024.
- ▪The EU has imposed sanctions on several individuals associated with the Taliban regime.
- ▪Two senior Taliban leaders are subject to arrest warrants issued by the international criminal court for crimes against humanity.
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In 2024, the Taliban banned women from speaking or showing their faces outside their home. Photograph: Sanaullah Seiam/AFP/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenIn 2024, the Taliban banned women from speaking or showing their faces outside their home. Photograph: Sanaullah Seiam/AFP/Getty ImagesTalibanEU faces fierce criticism over plans to host Taliban in BrusselsRights campaigners and MEPs say meeting would normalise regime that erases women from public lifeAshifa Kassam European community affairs correspondentTue 23 Jun 2026 00.00 EDTLast modified on Tue 23 Jun 2026 00.02 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleEU officials are facing fierce criticism over plans to host the Taliban in Brussels on Tuesday, with rights campaigners and MEPs warning that the meeting risks normalising a regime…
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