The entire staff of the Afghan General Consulate in Bonn has resigned in a collective action, citing concerns over the German government’s recent decision to permit Taliban representatives to operate within the consulate. A statement released by the staff, reported by German newspaper “taz” explains that the employees feel “unable to continue our service under these new circumstances.
The consulate staff had been in their positions prior to the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in 2021, representing the previous, more liberal Afghan government. Despite the Taliban’s assumption of power and the subsequent revoking of their official recognition by the Afghan government, they continued to perform their duties in Bonn and at another consulate in Berlin, until now. The consulate in Munich has already been brought under Taliban control.
The recent decision by German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, of the CSU party, to allow two Taliban representatives entry into Germany – reportedly in exchange for facilitating deportation flights and paving the way for future deportations – appears to be the immediate catalyst for the resignations. One of these representatives was reportedly assigned to the Bonn consulate, prompting the staff’s unified decision to step down.
In their statement, the former consulate employees expressed deep reservations regarding the German government’s action, asserting that it “contradicts the values we uphold”. They reiterated a hope for a future Afghanistan founded on “the will, the dignity and the dreams of its people.
Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban have re-established a restrictive government in Afghanistan. Reports from human rights organizations detail widespread oppression, particularly affecting women and LGBTQ+ individuals, along with allegations of torture and executions within the country’s prison system.
