In a recent report dated January 22 from the United Nations, the challenging circumstances faced by Afghan women under Taliban rule have come to light. The report reveals severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban, particularly targeting unmarried women or those without a male guardian.
Instances mentioned in the report include officials from the Vice and Virtue Ministry advising a woman in healthcare to consider marriage if she wishes to retain her job, deeming it inappropriate for unmarried women to work. Since the Taliban took control in 2021, they have implemented strict measures, preventing women from participating in various aspects of public life and restricting girls’ education to the sixth grade. The group has enforced a dress code, shut down beauty parlours, and arrested women who do not adhere to their interpretation of hijab.
In May 2022, the Taliban issued a decree requiring women to show only their eyes and recommending the full-body burqa, echoing restrictions from their previous rule between 1996 and 2001.
The UN report, covering October to December of the previous year, highlights a targeted crackdown on unmarried women or those lacking a male guardian. The Vice and Virtue Ministry, acting as the Taliban’s morality police, enforces hijab and mahram requirements through inspections and checkpoints at public places, offices, and educational institutions.
Specific incidents mentioned include the detention of three female healthcare workers for going to work without a mahram, released only after their families provided assurances not to repeat the act. In Paktia province, the ministry has restricted women without mahrams from accessing health facilities since December, actively ensuring compliance through visits and inspections.
The reach of the ministry extends to transportation, with reported instructions to bus drivers in Kandahar province not to allow women to travel long distances without mahrams.
A concerning aspect highlighted in the report is the arrest of women for purchasing contraceptives, despite no official ban by the Taliban. These revelations have triggered strong reactions internationally. The Taliban’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, dismisses the report as based on misunderstandings, accusing the UN mission of ignoring or criticizing Islamic law, or Shariah. This situation underscores the urgent need for attention and action to protect the rights and well-being of Afghan women.
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