Australia on Saturday announced financial sanctions and travel bans on four senior officials in Afghanistan’s Taliban government, citing a worsening human rights situation, especially for women and girls.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the targeted individuals, three Taliban ministers and the regime’s chief justice, were directly involved in policies that restrict Afghan women’s access to education, employment, movement, and participation in public life.
Wong said the measures were imposed under Australia’s new sanctions framework, which allows Canberra to introduce its own penalties to increase pressure on the Taliban.
“These actions target those responsible for the oppression of women and girls and those undermining good governance or the rule of law,” she said in a statement.
Australia was part of the US-led international coalition in Afghanistan for two decades before withdrawing its troops in August 2021. After the Taliban takeover, Australia evacuated thousands of Afghans, mostly women and children, who have since been resettled in the country.
Since returning to power, the Taliban has faced international criticism for its sweeping restrictions on Afghan women, including bans on secondary and university education, most jobs, public spaces, and long-distance travel without a male guardian. The Taliban, however, maintains that its policies align with its interpretation of Islamic law and local customs.
Australia said its latest sanctions are aimed at holding Taliban leaders accountable and supporting the Afghan people at a time when millions rely on humanitarian aid.
