Daniel Salvatore Schiffer, the noted professor of philosophy at Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts de Liège, Belgium, recently organized meetings in European capitals for the National Resistance Front (NRF) of Afghanistan, the anti-Taliban resistance fighting for democracy and human rights in Afghanistan. Schiffer has also written a series of articles reminding the West about the subjugation of women under the Taliban rule that got underway again in 2021.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban jihadi organization which seized power on August 15, 2021) abolished, in its first major decision, the Afghan Ministry of Women's Affairs and began recruiting jihadi fighters and suicide bombers into the Afghan armed forces, with the Taliban ministers openly declaring that battalions of Taliban suicide bombers will be part of the Afghan military from now on.[1]
Afghan Taliban's interior minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, who is on FBI's most wanted list, does not show his face to the media.[2]
Soon after the Taliban jihadi organization seized power, the NRF emerged as an opposition group fighting for democratic values and the rights of women and religious minorities. In recent months, the U.S. and European governments have held talks with the Islamic Emirate, legitimizing the jihadi organization. The U.S. and European governments have held talks with the Taliban in Doha, the Qatari capital, whereas Norway, Iran, and Russia too hosted the jihadi leaders.
In an article translated into Dari and English by the Afghan media group Aamaj News, Daniel Salvatore Schiffer condemned Norway for hosting the Taliban and discussed the democratic values at stake in Afghanistan ever since the Taliban jihadi organization seized power. He also talked about NRF's mission to force the Taliban jihadi group to form an inclusive government with full democratic rights to women and minorities.[3] It should be borne in mind that NRF, led by Ahmad Massoud, has held talks with the Taliban leadership in Iran and, though unconfirmed officially, in Moscow.[4]
Following are excerpts from the article:
"[Afghan Taliban Are] Establishing A Regime Which Does Not Value Human Rights And The Most Fundamental Values Such As Civil Liberties, And Its Result Would Be Sociopolitical Barbarism"
"August 15, 2021, was a catastrophic and unforgettable day that Taliban – an Islamist intolerant group that considers Islamic shari'a in a harsh way as its law – captured Kabul. This group, using the crushing defeat and hurried withdrawal of the U.S. forces, is establishing a regime which does not value human rights and the most fundamental values such as civil liberties, and its result would be sociopolitical barbarism.
"Afghan people, in particular women, have been deprived of their rights and, under that mobile prison Burqa, are in pitch darkness. They are experiencing Islamic fascism and dictatorship that in the past even Nazis were not able to imagine it.
"The National Resistance Front
"In order to cling to the honor of the civilization to which I belong, without the slightest hesitation and considering the current situation of Afghanistan's poor but honorable people, I immediately adopted a stance and stood by the National Resistance Front. Writing consistent articles and notes for the media has been part of this stance.
"The National Resistance Front was formed by young Ahmad Massoud on the very day of the fall of Kabul which is of political, military, and civil bases. Ahmad Massoud, the son of the late commander Ahmad Shah Massoud – the legendary warrior of the Panjshir Valley who resisted against the Soviet Union and then the Taliban invasion between 1979 and 2001."
"I Arranged A Series Of Important Political And Media Meetings For Representatives Of [Anti-Taliban Resistance] NRF In Two Major European Capitals Paris And Brussels"
"So, with determination and sacrifice mingled with the philosophical teachings I believe in, as well as my individual moral values which are derived from the teachings of the great Emmanuel Kant, I arranged a series of important political and media meetings for representatives of NRF in two major European capitals Paris and Brussels. In these meetings, I accompanied the head of foreign relations for NRF, Ali Maisam Nazary, and a young well-educated and member of National Resistance Front, Obaid Mahdi.
"Visiting [Former] President François Hollande
"The first and most important meeting, both in terms of political and its symbolic significance, was the meeting that took place on January 13, 2022, in Paris with former president of France, François Hollande. He is aware of Afghanistan's deplorable situation, warmly and kindly welcomed us in his office for an hour. Mr. president made a phone call to Ahmad Massoud about this issue.
"The news was first published on the Twitter account of Ali Maisam Nazary, who thanked the president François Hollande for the meeting, and the telephone conversation between Ahmad Massoud and François Hollande was also informed. Soon the news was also published on the official Twitter account of the François Hollande. 'I express my full support to Ahmad Massoud for his efforts for democracy,' the president said.
"Moral Courage And Political Transparency
"The news relating to this meeting quickly spread on social media and its impact on the Afghan people, especially the NRF forces against the Taliban, was positive and promising. Mr. Hollande's moral courage and political transparency in expressing his stance on Afghanistan are commendable."
"The Future Government Of Afghanistan That NRF Wishes To Establish Resembles A Federal Government As The Governments Of Belgium, Switzerland, And Germany"
"Brussels And Belgian Diplomacy In The Heart Of Europe
"Brussels is not only the capital of Belgium, but also the capital of the European Union and the capital of NATO. Political and media activities have a special place in Europe there. My trip with Ali Maisam Nazary and Obaid Mahdi did not end in Paris.
"Five days after visiting President François Hollande, we had another important meeting in Belgium's foreign ministry. Two Belgian diplomats warmly heard our speech. One of them is the analyst of Asia and Afghanistan's affairs, and surely it is not my job to enclose everything here. But let me say that two eminent Belgian diplomats heard our words warmly.
NRF leader Ahmad Massoud, center.
"Humanitarian Aid, Human And Women's Rights, International Counter-Terrorism
"There is a serious will at the forefront of legitimate concerns in the Belgian diplomacy to provide humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people, who are left alone, hungry, and homeless. Like any other eminent democracy in the world, human rights and of course women's rights in Afghanistan are a major concern for Belgium. These rights are now under threat of the Taliban's radicalization.
"It is also very important to reduce to some extent the grave threat posed by global terrorism from Afghanistan's soil to modern, free, and secular democracies without interfering in Afghanistan's internal affairs.
"For A Free And Democratic Afghanistan – Free From Racial, Religious, And Gender Discrimination
"What would be the result of this political and diplomatic trip between Paris and Brussels? The head of foreign relations for National Resistance Front [Ali Maisam Nazary] answers. The National Resistance Front considers the Taliban's power which have taken [Afghanistan] by force, illegitimate. Taliban's rule is not of political reputation for major part of Afghans. The National Resistance Front defends a modern, democratic, and free country which has a decentralized government, free of racial, religious, cultural, lingual, and gender discrimination.
"The future government of Afghanistan that NRF wishes to establish resembles a federal government as the governments of Belgium, Switzerland, and Germany. From Afghan's points of view NRF is the only source that can implement this plan. This way the country could find its suitable position among other countries and nations under the name of human and women's rights, brotherhood, and equality."
"How Can Europe, The Same Europe That We Discussed, Its Democracy And Civilization, Shamelessly Accept Such A Terrorist Group? History Will Judge"
"Equal Efforts For Civilization And Against Barbarism
"We can say that the current struggle in Afghanistan for freedom and peace is also our struggle. This struggle is for the West, for civilization itself; without that no humanist has the value. This is precisely why the United Nations, like NATO and the European Union, never recognize the hated regime of these new vicious people – the Taliban.
January 25, 2022: Taliban delegation (left) at talks in Norway
"Disapproval of Oslo's Talks With Taliban
"The National Resistance Front, following the example of Afghan civil society as a whole, strongly condemns the recent talks between the Western countries and Taliban representatives in Oslo, the Norwegian capital. The holding of such a meeting by the involvement of some political leaders is another betrayal of these politicians to the Afghan people. Another noteworthy point is the presence of Anas Haqqani in the Taliban delegation. He is one of the leaders of the dreaded Haqqani network and the financial director of this network. The Haqqani Network was founded by his father Jalaluddin Haqqani and is now headed by his older brother, Sirajuddin Haqqani [who is on the FBI's list of most wanted.]
"It is responsible for deadly attacks and the killing of thousands of Afghan citizens [as well as for attack on U.S. embassy in Kabul and NATO targets in Afghanistan]. He [Anas Haqqani] was arrested in Afghanistan in 2013 and sentenced to death by a court. He was closely monitored in Bagram prison until 2019, then he was exchanged for two foreign hostages by [President] Ashraf Ghani [under American pressure].
"The organization [Haqqani Network] is one of Al-Qaeda's main allies and the bloodiest branch of the Taliban. Currently, Sirajuddin Haqqani has declared himself the interior minister of the Taliban government, while he is being pursued by Interpol police; and the U.S. government has set a $10 million reward for finding him.
"Shame On The West For Betraying Its Ideals And The Aspirations Of The Afghan People
"Shortly we can say these talks were held in Oslo, with the presence of such criminals, to normalize the future relations of the Western countries. They talked to the hated dictatorship regime of the Taliban, which is a disgrace to the European countries. The question, how can Europe, the same Europe that we discussed, its democracy and civilization, shamelessly accept such a terrorist group? History will judge this issue."
[1] MEMRI JTTM report Afghan Taliban Leaders Say Battalion Of Suicide Bombers Will Be Part Of Afghan Army, Threaten To Deploy 2,000 Suicide Bombers At Afghan Embassy In Washington D.C. If The U.S. Deploys 2,000 Troops At U.S. Embassy In Kabul, January 6, 2022.
[2] MEMRI TV Clip No. 9323, Afghan Interior Minister Sarajuddin Haqqani, Wanted By The FBI, On Al-Jazeera: 'Once We Receive Recognition, We Will Not Pose A Threat To Anyone', January 22, 2022.
[3] Aamajnews24.com (Afghanistan), February 2, 2022. The original English of the article has lightly been rewritten and edited for clarity and standardization. The article was originally published in French by Agoravox.fr.
[4] ToloNews.com (Afghanistan), February 1, 2022.
