France Takes Stand for Afghan Women: Welcomes Forced-Out Professionals Seeking Refuge from Taliban Rule
France to receive five Afghan women forced out of public life by the Taliban, providing them with asylum and support as part of ongoing efforts to help vulnerable women in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan,Taliban,French,Women,Refuge,Evacuation,Asylum,Immigration,Assistance,Safety ----In a move to support Afghan women who have been threatened by the Taliban, France is set to receive five women who have been forced out of public life due to the strict interpretation of Islam imposed by the Taliban authorities. These women, who have held important positions in Afghan society or have close contacts with Westerners, will arrive in Paris on Monday, according to French immigration authority chief Didier Leschi. The women, who include a former university director, an ex-NGO consultant, a former television presenter, and a teacher at a secret school in Kabul, were unable to leave Afghanistan on airlifts to Western countries when the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
They sought temporary refuge in neighboring Pakistan, from where the French authorities organized their evacuation. Upon their arrival in France, the women will be registered as asylum seekers and provided with housing while their applications for refugee status are being considered. The French immigration authority has stated that similar evacuations are likely to be repeated for other Afghan women facing a similar profile. The decision to evacuate these women is a result of persistent efforts from organizations such as the France Terre D'Asile NGO, which has been advocating for the evacuation of Afghan women in dire situations.
Delphine Rouilleault, the head of the NGO, highlighted that hundreds of Afghan women are currently in hiding in Pakistan. France's commitment to supporting Afghans was reiterated by President Emmanuel Macron in mid-2021, and the country has already evacuated nearly 16,000 people from Afghanistan since then. However, the NGO Accueillir les Afghanes has expressed concern for the plight of single Afghan women who have been largely abandoned and has called upon the French government to establish an emergency program to provide assistance. The evacuation of these five Afghan women signifies France's dedication to providing aid and refuge to those most vulnerable under Taliban rule. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by women in Afghanistan and the importance of international support in ensuring their safety and well-being.