Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs has introduced a new round of sanctions against four senior officials of the Afghan Taliban government, citing serious and persistent human rights violations. The measures, announced on Monday, are aimed at holding the Taliban leadership accountable for policies that suppress fundamental freedoms and undermine governance structures in Afghanistan.
According to the announcement, the sanctions were imposed on four key grounds: the systematic suppression of girls and women, the persecution of ethnic and religious minorities, the broader pattern of abuses against the Afghan population, and the ongoing erosion of the rule of law and legitimate state governance. The Australian government stated that these steps reflect its firm commitment to protecting human rights and maintaining international pressure on authorities responsible for rights violations.
The sanctions target four high-ranking members of the Taliban administration. Those named include the Minister for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, whose ministry has enforced restrictive measures curtailing women’s mobility, appearance, and participation in public life. Also sanctioned is the Minister of Higher Education, Sheikh Neda Mohammad Nadim, under whose tenure women have been barred from universities and denied access to higher learning.
The list further includes the Minister of Justice, Abdul Hakim Sharai, for his role in implementing policies that have dismantled due process and judicial protections, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Abdul Hakim Haqqani, whose judicial directives have strengthened the imposition of harsh interpretations of Islamic law and further restricted civil liberties.
Australian authorities noted that the sanctions are designed to increase pressure on Taliban officials responsible for policies that contravene international norms, while signalling continued support for Afghan women, girls, and marginalized communities facing severe restrictions. The government reiterated that it will continue working with international partners to push for the restoration of rights, freedoms, and inclusive governance in Afghanistan.
