report in Khaama Press online, July 20, 2023
Following the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, the European Council on Thursday imposed restrictive measures against 18 people and five entities because of their involvement in grave human rights abuses and violations in several countries, including Afghanistan.
Six people were listed “over various forms of sexual and gender-based violence,” according to a statement from the council, three of whom are senior Taliban leaders in positions of authority.
The Sanctioned individuals include acting Taliban Ministers of Education and Justice and the acting Taliban Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Afghanistan, the statement said.
The statement also added that these Taliban leaders had a “role in depriving Afghan girls and women of their rights to education, access to justice and equal treatment between men and women.”
The Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime of the EU imposes restrictions on individuals and organizations, including asset freezing, travel bans, and entry prohibitions.
The three Taliban officials named on Thursday by the EU are the acting minister of education for the Taliban, Mawlawi Habibullah Agha, the acting chief justice of the Afghan Supreme Court, Mawlawi Abdul Hakim Haqqani, and the acting minister of justice for the Taliban, Abdul-Hakim Sharei.
Since the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan, they have issued over 50 decrees restricting women’s rights, including the freedom to attend secondary high schools and public spaces.
Amid the country’s severe humanitarian crisis and starvation, the Taliban has prohibited women from working for humanitarian organizations.
International groups, social activists, and human rights advocates sharply criticized the Taliban’s recent restrictions on women’s beauty salons.
On Wednesday, dozens of women protested against the beauty salon ban after the Taliban ordered their closure across the country.
However, the Taliban authorities have increased their restrictions on women’s activities, including education, working despite massive criticism by national and international human rights activists. https://www.khaama.com/eu-sanctions-three-taliban-leaders-under-global-human-rights-sanctions-regime/
