GOP seeks new IEA sanctions over ‘human rights abuses’

Several Republican senators on Wednesday were reported to be preparing to introduce a bill to impose tough new sanctions on the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) for human rights abuses in Afghanistan, Fox News reported.

According to Fox News, the bill requires US President Joe Biden to sanction the IEA for “terrorist activity, drug trafficking and human rights abuses, including abuses against women.”

If passed, the bill would block and prohibit all transactions in property held by the IEA, as well as invalidate all visas or other documentation permitting an entry to the U.S.

The bill lists several demands the IEA must meet to avoid further sanctions.

This includes separating ties from all terrorist groups, granting humanitarian groups full access to its territory to provide for vulnerable residents, allowing residents to leave its territory, and a recognition of human rights, women rights, and freedom of the press, Fox News reported.

At the same time, the Islamic Emirate says that the policy of isolation and increasing sanctions will not solve the problems, but will create gaps and darken relations. Bilal Karimi, the deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate emphasized that efforts should be made to solve the existing problems through diplomatic means.