Brazil protest targets Taliban policies and Brussels visit

According to reports, the rally was organized by the women's rights organization Voice of Women and drew Afghan refugees alongside representatives of local and

SAO PAULO: A large protest was held in Brazil’s largest city, Sao Paulo, against the Afghan Taliban’s policies and the group’s reported engagement with European institutions, as demonstrations against the Taliban continue in several countries.

According to reports, the rally was organized by the women’s rights organization Voice of Women and drew Afghan refugees alongside representatives of local and international human rights groups. Protesters called for the restoration of Afghan women’s rights to education, employment, and freedom, while condemning the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls.

Demonstrators carried banners in Portuguese urging governments not to recognize the Taliban and to stand in solidarity with Afghan women. Organizers argued that inviting Taliban representatives to engage with European institutions undermines the rights of the Afghan people and sends the wrong message to the international community.

Participants also called on world leaders to maintain pressure on the Taliban over alleged human rights abuses and urged governments not to grant the group international legitimacy until fundamental rights are restored in Afghanistan.

The demonstration reflects continuing international criticism of the Taliban’s policies, particularly restrictions imposed on women and girls, and highlights growing concern among rights advocates over efforts to normalize diplomatic engagement with the Afghan authorities.