United States (US) Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced new visa restrictions against the Taliban on Wednesday in response to the Afghan administration’s prohibitions on women’s employment and education.
“I am taking action today to impose additional visa restrictions on certain current or former Taliban members, members of non-state security groups, and other individuals believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, repressing women and girls in Afghanistan,” Blinken said in a statement.
The Taliban have put several limitations on Afghan women since regaining power in August 2021, including prohibiting them from holding public office, going to secondary and higher education institutions, or visiting parks.
They forbade NGOs from working with Afghan women towards the end of December, causing a number of organisations to halt their operations.
