In January 2022, Hoda Khamosh was invited to Norway for talks about the rights of women in her home country of Afghanistan in Oslo. Khamosh was not a random guest. She was named one of the most important people in the world by both Time Magazine and the BBC. She says that she did not understand how big the consequences of the meeting would be. At the meeting table in Oslo, she protests against lies from the Taliban. She demands freedom for imprisoned activists. She becomes a dangerous opponent. And a target for the Taliban. It will be too dangerous to go home. As she saw it, her only option was to apply for asylum in Norway. Representatives from the Taliban were flown to Norway in January last year. They were invited here and the Department of Foreign Affairs paid for their trip. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kabul In asylum limbo Over a year later, Hoda Khamosh lives in an asylum reception center in Norway. She is still waiting for her asylum application to be approved after she applied in August. – I have lost my platform. Women in Afghanistan trusted that I would be their voice. I feel I have abused their trust when I am imprisoned in Norway, she says. Khamosh is invited to conferences all over Europe, but as an asylum seeker she cannot leave the country. Kristine Aarre Hånes works as a lawyer for Khamosh. She has repeatedly scolded the UDI in this matter. She believes that the Norwegian authorities are acting in a particularly critical manner in this matter. – The consequence of the fact that she has not yet been granted asylum is that an important voice for women’s rights in Afghanistan has been partially stifled, says Hånes. Kristine Aarre Hånes in RettAdvokat. Photo: Oddgeir Øystese / news Hånes says that although it has not taken an unusually long time to process this asylum application, there are good reasons for speedy processing in this case. – My client has a claim to asylum. It was the Norwegian authorities who put her in danger by inviting her to a meeting where she spoke against the Taliban. No comment from the governing authorities news has requested a comment from both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UDI in this matter. The Foreign Ministry says they believe Khamosh is a particularly important voice from Afghanistan, and that she was therefore invited to the country. As case information, they inform that the other five civilians who were invited to the meeting have returned to their home country. They will not let you interview because UDI is responsible for asylum applications. UDI is exempt from confidentiality in the case, but will not be interviewed. Their only comment is that they cannot comment because the asylum application has not been processed. Family in danger While Hoda Khamosh waits for a response to her asylum application, she is worried that the Taliban are looking for her family. She says that two weeks ago they visited the grandfather in his shop. He was beaten and abused. He died after two weeks in hospital. Hoda Khamosh at the library in Kongsvinger Photo: Arne Sørenes / news The rest of the family now live in hiding. – I am particularly afraid of my sisters and my husband. He has received many threats. If the asylum application is approved, Khamosh can apply to bring them to Norway. Then he can continue to fight for human rights in Afghanistan. – I fight for my own rights. Righteousness to my people. They live with crime and blood. Everyone has the right to a peaceful life in a peaceful country. She who came to Norway to fight for her homeland now finds herself increasingly forgotten and more meaningless thousands of kilometers from home.
ttn-69
The Afghan activist Hoda Khamosh is a prisoner in the asylum queue in Norway – news Vestland
