Australia Imposes Sanctions on Taliban Government
Australia imposed financial sanctions and travel bans on three ministers and the chief judge of the Taliban government in Afghanistan on Saturday. This decision is justified by what Australia describes as a "deterioration of the human rights situation" in the country, particularly for women and girls.
The Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong, stated that the officials are involved in "the repression of women and girls and the undermining of good governance or the rule of law in the Taliban-led country."
In her statement, Wong emphasized that the sanctions target three ministers and the chief judge of the movement, accusing them of "restricting girls' and women's access to education, employment, freedom of movement, and the ability to participate in public life."
Wong added that these measures "are part of a new framework for the Australian government, which allows it to directly impose its sanctions and travel bans to increase pressure on the Taliban, targeting the repression suffered by the Afghan people."
On the other hand, the Taliban movement claimed that it "respects women's rights, in accordance with its vision of Sharia and local customs."
Since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, the movement has been criticized for the severe restrictions it imposes on the rights and freedoms of women and girls, including the ban on education and work.
Australia had welcomed thousands of people evacuated from Afghanistan - mostly women and children - after the Taliban regained power in the war-torn country, where a large part of the population now depends on humanitarian aid to survive.
Key Points:
- Australia imposes financial sanctions and travel bans on three Taliban ministers and the chief judge
- The sanctions target officials involved in the repression of women and girls
- The Taliban movement claims to respect women's rights in accordance with Sharia and local customs
- Australia has welcomed thousands of Afghan evacuees, mostly women and children
- The country depends heavily on humanitarian aid to survive after the Taliban regained power
