translated from Spanish: Mexico shelters journalists working in Afghanistan

Mexico on Wednesday received a group of 124 people made up of reporters working in Afghanistan and their families, hours after hosting five young Afghan women from an internationally award-winning robotics team, all evacuated after the Taliban took power.
“These are those who are risking their lives to inform, to communicate, who are committed to freedom of expression, to the freedom and independence of communication,” Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said during a welcoming ceremony for journalists at mexico city airport.
The group, made up of workers from various media outlets operating in Kabul, arrived in Mexico after a 20-hour flight from Doha on a Qatar Air Force plane, where children also traveled, according to images released by the Foreign Ministry.

I received reporters and local staff members from various media outlets who have applied for humanitarian visas to Mexico because of the latest events in Kabul, Afghanistan. They arrived with their families, 124 people in total including minors, after 20 hours of flight : pic.twitter.com/8Qr27zxr92
— Marcelo Ebrard C. (@m_ebrard) August 25, 2021

According to The New York Times, a group of Afghans who worked for that outlet landed, along with their families.
The New York Times recounts in its Wednesday edition that Ebrard was at home around 5 p.m. on Aug. 12 when he received a WhatsApp message from Azam Ahmed, who was chief correspondent in Kabul and Mexico and is on leave while writing a book.

“Is the Government of Mexico willing to receive refugees from Afghanistan?” asked Ahmed, who maintained a cordial relationship with Ebrard despite the Mexican government’s occasional heated criticism of his coverage. “We have people there, good people who are trying to get out.”
Ebrard quickly responded that it would not be possible, though he called the president and explained the situation. Around 6:30 p.m. Ebrard wrote to Ahmed that he was ready to provide assurances and that he would accept a list of Afghans.
According to the outlet, El Times did not disclose its settlement with Mexico. After it succeeded, Mexico extended the invitation to The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. Journal editor-in-chief Matt Murray said the newspaper planned to send his team, which is now in Qatar and Ukraine, to Mexico. A Post spokeswomen declined to comment on her plans.
Hours earlier, the Mexican government had also received five young Afghan women members of a robotics team of about 20 teenagers that has been awarded internationally.
Foreign ministry officials did not identify them directly for security reasons. Four of them gave a press conference, with their hair partially covered by a veil and sanitary mask.
“They not only saved our lives but also our dreams, which we seek to come true (…). Our story will not end sadly for the Taliban,” one of the young women said through a translator.
The girl said the female robotics team proved that women are also capable of doing science.
“Now that the Taliban have sees power, this is no longer in our favor (…) In this regime we girls find ourselves in difficulty (…) that is why we are grateful to be here,” she added.
The women, the Foreign Ministry explained, will be able to access a humanitarian visa for up to 180 days with the right to renewal or they will be able to choose the status they prefer. The partner of one of them was also given refuge.
“The protection of values has made us commit ourselves so that they are in Mexico (…) We want to tell them with all our hearts: they’re at home,” Ebrard said.
Mexico has a long tradition of granting refuge and has hosted personalities such as russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky and persecuted politicians from Spain and South American countries.
“Afghan Dreamers”
The shelter for the five young women was granted thanks to the intervention of a civil organization. The flights were paid for with donations and by an unidentified Mexican institution for security reasons, which will also provide them with free lodging and food.
The girls, who are known as “Afghan Dreamers,” won a special award at the 2017 robotics world championship and recently created a novel ventilator for patients affected by COVID-19 from old car parts.
This robotics team from Afghanistan is made up of about 20 women, mostly teenagers. According to press reports, other members have managed to leave their country in the last week.
Mexico announced days ago that it was processing sunicitudes of refuge for Afghans, especially women and girls, after the Taliban reached Kabul following the withdrawal of U.S. troops.
There are fears that the brutality that marked the regime that dominated Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001 and forced women to remain confined to their homes will return.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said Tuesday that how the Taliban treat women, especially as it relates to their right to education, will represent a “red line” for the organization.
Desperation rose on Wednesday among thousands of Afghans willing to do anything to flee the new Taliban regime, after US President Joe Biden confirmed that evacuations from Kabul airport will end next week.
Thousands of Afghans have been crowding for days at the gates of the airport, guarded by more than 6 thousand U.S. soldiers, hoping to board one of the flights chartered by Western countries.
With information from AFP and The New York Times
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Original source in Spanish

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