Afghan filmmaker Sahraa Karimi, at the Goya Awards: “If they recognize the Taliban regime, they will be giving them permission to destroy women”

“Comrades from the world of cinema and lovers of the seventh art, maestro Almodóvar, thank you for inviting me, it is an honor to be here”, Afghan filmmaker Sahraa Karimi has begun to read on stage in what has become one of the most emotional moments of the Goya Awards. The young woman wanted to take advantage of her moment on stage to “be the voice of the women of Afghanistan who live as prisoners of the Taliban.”

“From this stage I would like to address the international community,” Karimi stated bluntly, recalling that “the Taliban oppress Afghan women”: “The Taliban attack culture, cinema, democratic values, they have massacred thousands of innocents in the name of religion in the last 20 years. “Why is the international community considering recognizing the Taliban regime? Why do some media try to show it as something normal?” the director asks indignantly, stating that “if other countries recognize the Taliban regime that wants to end women, art and cinema, will be giving the Taliban permission to destroy the future of Afghanistan and, specifically, of Afghan women, who have the right to be free”.

“To all the filmmakers of the world and of Spanish cinema, please, I ask that your voices be heard in defense of Afghanistan, of Afghan women, of Afghan cinema, do not recognize the Taliban regime”, concluded the filmmaker to the applause of those present.