Sheikh Mawlawi Fariduddin Mahmood, a prominent religious cleric, has held the position of President of the Academy of Sciences of Afghanistan since October 2021. The academy, which oversees over 500 personnel in more than 15 centers and 45 research institutes, plays a pivotal role in advancing scientific activities, research, and development across various fields in Afghanistan. On December 8, 2023, the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned Fariduddin Mahmood due to his role involvement in supporting the Taliban cabinet's decision "to close education centers and schools to women and girls after the sixth grade." This decision has significantly restricted women and girls' access to all secondary education in Afghanistan. Consequently, Sheikh Fariduddin was added to the Treasury's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List. His extensive career includes serving as the deputy head of the Afghanistan Academy of Sciences under the Taliban regime during the 1990s. Additionally, he briefly served as the provincial governor of Paktika province during the Mujahideen government (1992-1994). He received his education at the Darul Uloom Haqqani madrassa in Pakistan.
