Afghan Taliban condemn US sanctions against key leaders

By Islamuddin Sajid

ISLAMABAD (AA) - Afghan Taliban on Saturday condemned the latest US sanctions against its two key leaders over their alleged role in banning access to education for women and girls in Afghanistan.

In a statement posted on X, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said they condemned the restrictions imposed by the US Department of the Treasury on Sheikh Fariduddin Mahmood and Sheik Mohammad Khalid Hanafi.

"Imposing pressure and restriction is not the solution to any problem. Despite the fact that the United States has a history of such failed measures, it should not repeat its failed experiences," Mujahid said.

"While America itself is among the biggest violator of human rights due to its support for Israel, it is unjustified and illogical to accuse other people of violating human rights and then ban them," he added.

The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control on Friday imposed sanctions against Mahmood, a key member of the interim administration and head of the Afghanistan Academy of Sciences, and Hanafi, interim minister of the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. In total, it announced sanctions against 20 individuals in nine countries for “human rights abuses.”

The decision was taken "for serious human rights abuse related to the repression of women and girls, including through the restriction of access to secondary education for women and girls in Afghanistan solely on the basis of gender," the US Treasury said in a statement.

"This gender-based restriction reflects severe and pervasive discrimination against women and girls and interferes with their enjoyment of equal protection."

The Taliban, who returned to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, have stopped girls’ education beyond sixth grade, triggering global condemnation.