“No Deals with the Taliban”: Activists, Refugee Groups Rally in Vienna

ADN

Dozens of activists and refugee support groups protested outside Austria’s Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum (Bundesamt für Fremdenwesen und Asyl, BFA) on Monday against a reported meeting between the Interior Ministry and the Taliban representatives.

The demonstration was organized by groups including Asylkoordination Österreich, Balkanroute, Refugees Welcome, and several Afghan diaspora organizations. Protesters marched from the BFA to the Interior Ministry, carrying banners and chanting slogans such as “No deal with the Taliban!” and demanding transparency regarding the nature and purpose of the meeting.

Several banners conveyed explicit messages against any engagement with the Taliban. One read: “Engagement mit den Taliban verrät den Afghanischen” (Engagement with the Taliban betrays the Afghans), another carried the hashtag #GrenzenToten (Borders Kill). Another declared: “Die Taliban sind keine Diplomaten – sie sind Terroristen” (The Taliban are not diplomats – they are terrorists). These messages underscored the protesters’ rejection of official engagement with the Taliban and their insistence on recognizing the group as a terrorist organization responsible for widespread human rights abuses.

A representative from Asylkoordination Österreich highlighted the unresolved concerns, noting that many Afghans in Austria have sought protection over the past decade, most having fled the Taliban. He emphasized that asylum was granted appropriately, as Austrian courts have consistently recognized the Taliban as a terrorist organization. He stressed that the Taliban systematically persecute women and employ methods widely recognized as cruel and inhumane. Afghan women fleeing such persecution do not need to prove their risk, as it is already well documented. Yet he questioned how individuals responsible for this persecution could be granted entry visas to Austria.

He further questioned how a country committed to peace and human rights could host a terrorist organization that systematically persecutes women and dissenting voices. He asked why the decision was made and why the Interior Ministry remains silent. He emphasized that it is the right of citizens to demand answers and insist on transparency, warning that decisions made without clear explanations threaten the very foundation of the legal system. He stressed that this is precisely where action, vigilance, and persistent advocacy are required.

The protest also featured a statement from an Afghan female demonstrator, who underscored the urgency of transparency and accountability. She said protesters were demanding answers about how Taliban representatives were invited to Austria and allowed to meet with officials during the day, while refugees continued to fear for their lives. 

A female protester spoke during the demonstration, highlighting the human cost of Taliban rule. She noted that since the group’s return in 2021, girls are permitted to attend school only up to the sixth grade, and women have been excluded from public offices, professions, and public life. She added that the United Nations calls this institutionalized gender apartheid, and the International Criminal Court is investigating Taliban leaders to recognize this oppression as an international crime. Yet, she criticized Austria for accepting applications from the regime, warning that this normalizes what should never be normalized.

Several Afghan diaspora members attending the protest also complained about the lack of adequate Afghan presence, noting that the low turnout could be interpreted as fear of Taliban retaliation.

The demonstration reflected broader concerns within the Afghan refugee community in Austria. Activists emphasized that any interaction between the Austrian government and the Taliban could send a concerning message to the Afghan diaspora and potentially put refugees at risk. They called on the Austrian authorities to clarify the scope of the meeting, including who was present and what agreements, if any, were discussed, and stressed that transparency is essential to uphold human rights standards.

The march from the BFA to the Interior Ministry proceeded peacefully, with demonstrators maintaining a visible presence on the streets of Vienna. The protest concluded outside the Interior Ministry, where participants reiterated their demands for transparency, accountability, and an end to any engagement with the Taliban, emphasizing the need to protect refugees and uphold human rights standards in Austria.