Protection for artists from Afghanistan – New petition

Afghan cultural workers are targeted by the Taliban and are extremely vulnerable. They urgently need access to humanitarian visas. Governments must therefore respond immediately and protect artists.

This demand is also the focus of a new petition on WeAct – Campact's petition platform. It is addressed to the German Federal Government, the Swiss Federal Council, and the Austrian Federal Government.

What is it about?

The chaotic evacuation mission in Afghanistan is the focus of media and political debates. The primary focus is on the treatment of local military personnel. Almost entirely overlooked remains the precarious and life-threatening situation of the numerous artists and cultural workers.

These organizations have distinguished themselves in a particularly prominent way in recent years. Despite great danger, they stood up for women's rights and peaceful coexistence, and openly opposed the Taliban. There have been countless collaborations with European cultural institutions.

All of this makes artists declared enemies of the new rulers in Kabul and Afghanistan, creating a particularly dangerous situation, also for their families, who can be targeted for revenge. Too little is being reported about this, and the calls to prioritize artists and cultural workers in evacuations are too hesitant.

Many Afghan cultural figures are currently trapped in the country. They have gone into hiding and are seeking refuge with friends, as the Taliban are systematically searching their homes. Artists such as comedian Nazar Mohammed and folk singer Fawad Andarabi have already been targeted and executed.

Over 100 media outlets have been shut down, music has been banned, the Taliban have destroyed graffiti and painted over the faces of women in pictures.

They also announced that artists might have to find new professions. They would consider tolerating art, but only if it complied with Sharia law. It doesn't take much imagination to picture what that means: it's the end of free art in Afghanistan.

As long as this situation persists, we must help our colleagues retain a voice, at least in exile, so that the Afghan cultural landscape is not silenced forever. Even now, Afghan artists are beginning to destroy their own art out of fear of the Taliban.

It remains to be seen when and if flights will resume and which borders will reopen. The Taliban's strategy is also unclear. But the German and European cultural sector must now advocate strongly for the safe evacuation of their colleagues from Afghanistan, because tomorrow it could be too late.

What needs to happen?

Ways must be found to welcome, connect, and support Afghan artists and cultural workers in exile. However, this is only possible if policymakers prioritize their protection and safe passage.

The petition, launched by Hannah Neumann and using the hashtag #visa4AfghanArtists on social media to garner attention and support, demands that the Foreign Office keep the lists open for vulnerable peopleand make transparent how the lists – and thus the people on them – are being handled.

The petition calls for cross-border agreements and cross-border action . Artists should be granted the highest level of threat and receive assistance, without bureaucratic obstacles, to bring themselves and their families to safety.

Furthermore, it is demanded that Germany, Austria, and Switzerland commit to a minimum quota for resettlement . Exchange and scholarship programs for particularly vulnerable cultural workers must be sustainably expanded now and in the future. And the German-speaking cultural sector must also open its doors to Afghan colleagues.

Click here to go directly to the petition.