08/10/21

Professionals and organisations across the legal sector have been asked for pledges of support for their judicial and legal colleagues who have fled Afghanistan after the Taliban’s takeover of the country.
A number of organisations have come together to make the appeal, saying that female lawyers and judges have been particularly targeted since August, as the Taliban seeks to enforce its regime on those who played an active role in the Afghan state.
“Retribution is being sought by the Taliban on those who were involved in previous judicial and legal matters,” the statement said.
The coalition of groups involved in the initiative includes the Law Society, The Association of Judges, Bar of Ireland, International Association of Women Judges, and Irish Rule of Law. The move is also being backed by Government, and agencies such as Red Cross and the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.
Community sponsorship
The organisations say that they have constructed a pathway for colleagues to provide help in the areas of housing, funding, and collegiate support, using the ‘community sponsorship’ model.
This involves colleagues in the receiving states effectively wrapping around arriving families who share a common profession. This model is currently in place in Ireland for journalists and professional athletes arriving here.
The coalition has issued a request for offers of appropriate accommodation for a period of 12 months, to cater for up to 11 families who are currently fleeing Afghanistan.
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https://www.arabnews.com/node/1943856/world