'Turkey should grant asylum to women journalists from Afghanistan'

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Turkey should grant asylum to women journalists from Afghanistan, whose lives are at risk following the Taliban's takeover of the country, the Journalists' Union of Turkey (TGS) has said.

"We are following with great concern and anger the events in Afghanistan, which has been pillaged by invaders, warlords and the fundamentalist Taliban for decades and has been among the worst countries in global gender equality indexes for 20 years," the union's Women and LGBTI+ Commission said in a statement yesterday (August 24).

"Women, who say that they have no security of life under the new regime, are trying to make their voices heard in the world, after the Taliban, known for their brutal and inhumane practices against women, took over the government again.

"Like all women in Afghanistan, women journalists are under a great threat. We are informed that they were sent to their homes by the press organizations they worked for because 'the regime has changed,' that they cannot do their jobs due to lack of life security, and that they are exposed to harassment and threats on the streets.

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"As the Women and LGBTI+ Commission of the Journalists' Union of Turkey, we express our solidarity with our colleagues from Afghanistan and all Afghan women who are resisting for their lives under all circumstances.

"We regard the courage of Afghan women journalists, who persist in reporting despite all risks and reveal the truths with limited means, as 'journalism,' not what the press does by moderating the Taliban's messages in an effort to create sympathy for the Taliban and by making headlines out of the changed styles of Taliban militants while covering up their threats.

"We address President Erdoğan, who openly declared his attempts to sit down with the Taliban after his statement that 'We have nothing that contradicts the Taliban's beliefs': We don't accept negotiations and agreements with the Taliban, who makes the life unbearable for women and threatens their lives, and the justification and recognition of the Taliban regime.

"We demand unconditional asylum for all women and LGBTI+ journalists whose lives are threatened by the Taliban and safe passage and protection for journalists and their families who want to leave Afghanistan."

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(EMK/VK)