![Du betrachtest gerade [English] Five Years of Taliban Rule: Afghanistan, Germany and the Diaspora Community – A Conference report](https://www.wilpf.de/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/image01.jpeg)
WILPF Germany member Aasia shares insights from the conference „Five Years of Taliban Rule: Afghanistan, Germany and the Diaspora Community“ that took place on August 13 in Hamburg.
A report by Aasia
On 13 August, I participated in a conference entitled “Five Years of Taliban Rule: Afghanistan, Germany and the Diaspora Community,” held at Hamburg City Hall (Hamburger Rathaus). The conference was initiated by Hila Latifi, a member of the Hamburg Parliament representing the Left Party (Die Linke Hamburg), and was organized in cooperation with the Hazara Cultural and Sports Association and the Afghanistan Roundtable Association. The event was moderated by Omar Haidari, a journalist and social activist. A number of German citizens, civil society and human rights activists, representatives of social organizations, and members of the Afghan community in Germany attended the conference.
The main focus of the conference was to examine the political, social, and human rights situation in Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power, as well as Germany’s and the international community’s policies and responsibilities toward developments in Afghanistan. A significant part of
the discussions focused on the extensive restrictions imposed on women and girls in Afghanistan and their systematic exclusion from education, employment, and public and social life.
In her opening remarks, Hila Latifi emphasized the need to draw greater attention from German politicians and the public to the critical situation in Afghanistan. Referring to the current conditions in the country, she described the deportation and return of asylum seekers to Afghanistan as
unacceptable.
In the human rights session, Farangis Sogand, a writer and human rights activist, addressed the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan. She referred to the wide range of decrees and restrictions imposed by the Taliban over recent years, which have severely limited women’s participation in different areas of public life.
Peter Hornung, a journalist with NDR, subsequently discussed and criticized Germany’s policy toward Afghanistan and the Taliban. He warned against the normalization of relations with the Taliban and emphasized the need for greater transparency, accountability, and a clearer German policy toward Afghanistan.
Another important topic of the conference was the role of the Afghan community and the Afghan diaspora in Germany in amplifying the voices of the people of Afghanistan, defending human rights, and raising public awareness about developments in the country. In this section, Reza Qasemi, President of the Hazara Cultural and Sports Association, introduced the association’s activities, objectives, and role within the Afghan community.
Conclusion
Participating in this conference was a valuable opportunity for me to gain a deeper understanding of different perspectives on the current situation in Afghanistan, Germany’s policy toward the country, and the role of the Afghan diaspora in Germany.
The discussions demonstrated that the human rights situation, particularly the rights of women and girls, remains one of the most important concerns of the Afghan community and human rights organizations in Germany. The conference also highlighted the important role of the Afghan diaspora in Germany in representing the voices of the Afghan people, defending their fundamental rights, and raising awareness within German society about developments in Afghanistan.
In my view, such conferences provide an important platform for dialogue between the Afghan community, German political and civil society institutions, and human rights activists. They can contribute to a better understanding of the situation in Afghanistan and strengthen support for the rights and freedoms of the Afghan people.
