In an impassioned speech at the Free Iran 2024 World Summit in Paris, Nargis Nehan, the former Afghan Minister of Mines and Petroleum, called for global unity in combating oppression and institutionalized discrimination against women.

Nehan highlighted the urgent need to address the rising tide of extremism, fundamentalism, and authoritarianism that threatens women’s rights and democracy worldwide.”Why is the world so receptive to extremism and fundamentalism when democracy has so much to offer?” Nehan questioned, urging the international community to reflect on its priorities. She criticized the complacency of democratic nations that often compromise their values for geopolitical and economic interests. “The extremist groups are dedicated to their mission. They are not compromising their ideology while the preachers and believers of democracy are compromising their values left, right, and center,” she added.

Nehan’s speech painted a grim picture of the current situation in Afghanistan, where Taliban decrees have severely curtailed women’s rights and freedoms. She detailed the extensive restrictions imposed on women, from banning girls’ education beyond grade six to prohibiting women from working or traveling without a male guardian. “Our voices are silenced and women are imprisoned in their own houses by the Taliban,” Nehan lamented.

Reflecting on the historical context, Nehan criticized the international community’s policy of appeasement towards oppressive regimes in Iran and Afghanistan. She expressed frustration at the engagement with the Taliban, highlighting the hypocrisy of nations that claim to support women’s rights while legitimizing regimes that oppress women. “We see countries that are talking about women’s rights, democracy, and freedom, laying red carpets and receiving the Taliban, having bilateral meetings with them, taking selfies, and posting on social media,” she said.

Despite these challenges, Nehan drew inspiration from the resilience and resistance of women in Iran and Afghanistan. “It’s actually the women of Iran and Afghanistan, their resilience and their resistance that gave me hope and gave me the energy to stand in front of you and talk to you,” she stated, urging continued support for the struggle for women’s rights.

In her concluding remarks, Nehan called for international backing of Maryam Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan and an international campaign to recognize gender apartheid in Afghanistan and Iran as a crime against humanity. “Once that is recognized as a crime against humanity and international law, no country, no regime on the earth will be able to treat women the way the Taliban and the Iranian regime are dealing with them,” she emphasized.

Nehan’s speech was a clarion call for action, urging the global community to stand firm against oppression and support the fight for women’s rights and democratic values. “We are going to continue our fight. We know that we are on the right side of the street,” she declared, ending her address with a renewed call for unity and action.

MEK Iran (follow us on Twitter and Facebook), Maryam Rajavi’s on her site, Twitter & Facebook, NCRI  (Twitter & Facebook), and People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran – MEK IRAN – YouTu