Fawzia Koofi, a former Afghan politician and women's rights advocate, recently had a rough week. The Taliban arrested three of her family members, kept them in captivity, tortured one, and confiscated her house. She was about to write to European diplomats for help when she learned that the EU is inviting Taliban officials to Brussels for a friendly visit. Because apparently, after nearly five years of oppression, the best way to address gender apartheid is to offer the perpetrators a nice cup of coffee.
Let's take stock of those five years. No official schools for girls beyond sixth grade, while the Taliban happily opened thousands of religious schools where girls can attend without restriction. Women are banned from becoming doctors, which has helped maternal and infant mortality skyrocket. They're excluded from the job market, forcing many to beg on the streets. Meanwhile, a bird in Afghanistan has more legal protection than an Afghan woman. The EU's invitation to the Taliban is, as Koofi puts it, a slap in the face. She calls for laws to stop gender apartheid and end impunity, because for Afghan women and girls, it's a matter of survival.