Higher Committee of Human Fraternity concerned for crisis in Afghanistan

By Vatican News staff reporter

In a statement issued on Friday, the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity (HCHF) says it “is following the situation in Afghanistan with great concern,” especially with regard to the worsening humanitarian crisis in the country.

The Higher Committee emphasized that the international community “must not abandon their humanitarian responsibilities towards the Afghan people.” It called for the protection of human rights and human freedoms, and especially for the rights of Afghani women to be safeguarded.

At the same time, the HCHF urged “respect for ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity within the Afghan society, without marginalizing any of its groups, and ensuring equality between all people.”

Finally, the Higher Committee called on Afghans “to work collectively to end decades of fighting, wars, and bloodshed,” saying, “It is time for Afghanistan to embrace peaceful coexistence and uphold the principles of human fraternity and tolerance among all its people.”

The Higher Committee of Human Fraternity was established following the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by Grand Imam Ahmed el-Tayeb and Pope Francis in 2019. Its mission is “to inspire all people to live the values of human fraternity.”