Protection for artists from Afghanistan - new petition

Afghan cultural workers are the focus of the Taliban and extremely endangered. You have to get to humanitarian visas quickly and easily. Governments must therefore react immediately and protect artists.

This requirement is also the focus of a new petition on WEACT - the petition platform from Campact. It is directed to the Federal Government (Germany), Federal Council (Switzerland) and the Federal Government (Austria).

What is it about?

The chaotic evacuation mission in Afghanistan is the focus of media and political debates. The handling of the military local forces is primarily negotiated. The precarious and life -threatening situation of the numerous artists and cultural workers remains almost completely .

These have exposed themselves in a special way in recent years. Despite great danger, they stood for women's rights and peaceful coexistence and openly positioned themselves against the Taliban. There were countless cooperation with European cultural institutions.

All of this makes artists declared enemies of the new rulers in Kabul and Afghanistan and leads to a special hazard situation, also for the relatives where revenge can be committed. There is still too little report on it, and the demands to prioritize artists and cultural workers are too hesitant.

At the moment, many Afghan cultural workers are still stuck in the country. They are immersed and hide from friends because the Taliban systematically comb through their apartments. Artists have already been executed in a targeted manner, such as the comedian Nazar Mohammed or the folk singer Fawad Andarabi.

Over 100 media houses have been closed, music banned, the Taliban have destroyed graffiti and painted the faces in pictures where women can be seen.

They also said that it could be necessary to look for a new profession as artists. The possibility would be considered to continue to tolerate art, but only if it corresponds to the laws of the Sharia. It doesn't need to imagine much imagination, what that means: It is the end of free art in Afghanistan.

As long as this is the situation, we have to help our colleagues at least keep a voice in exile so that the Afghan cultural landscape is not silenced forever. Because Afghan artists are already starting to destroy their art for fear of the Taliban.

It remains to be seen when and whether flights will be made possible and what limits are opened. The Taliban strategy is also unclear. But the German and the European cultural landscape must now campaign for their colleagues to be brought to safety from Afghanistan, because it can be too late tomorrow.

What has to happen?

Paths would have to be found how Afghan artists and cultural workers can be taken, networked and supported in exile. However, this is only possible if politics pursues their protection and departure.

In the petition launched by Hannah Neumann under the hashtag #Visa4Afghanartists on social media, the Federal Foreign Office demands that the lists remain open to endangered persons and that it is made transparent, as with the lists - and thus with the people who are on it.

In the petition, cross -border agreements and cross -border action required. Artists should be awarded the highest risk level , and you should help them to be safe without bureaucratic obstacles.

It is also required that Germany, Austria and Switzerland commit a minimum quota for resettlement . Exchange and scholarship programs for particularly endangered cultural workers must be expanded sustainably now and in the future. And the German -speaking cultural company also has to open its doors to Afghan colleagues.

It goes directly to the petition here.