The Taliban’s control over Afghanistan has brought about severe restrictions on the rights of Afghan women, particularly those who are single or unaccompanied by a male guardian. A recent U.N. report reveals their limited access to employment, travel, and even healthcare.
Limits on Employment and Travel
The Taliban’s Vice and Virtue Ministry recently informed a female healthcare worker that she could only keep her job if she married, deeming it improper for an unwed woman to work. This incident highlights one of many instances where the Taliban has curtailed women’s participation in public life.
The restrictions on women’s employment are accompanied by limits on their mobility. The Taliban insists that unmarried women must have a male guardian, known as a mahram, accompanying them if they wish to move around or travel beyond a certain distance. Violation of this requirement has resulted in detentions and subsequent guarantees from families that the act would not be repeated.
Dress Code Enforcement and Beauty Parlor Shutdowns
In addition to employment and travel restrictions, the Taliban has imposed a strict dress code on women. Those who do not comply with their interpretation of the hijab, or Islamic headscarf, risk arrest. The Taliban’s decree issued in May 2022 required women to cover themselves from head to toe with the burqa, only allowing their eyes to be visible.
The Taliban has even gone as far as shutting down beauty parlors, signaling their intent to enforce a conservative societal framework. These actions reinforce the perception that the Taliban has not upheld their initial promise of a more moderate rule.
Health Care and Contraceptive Access
The Vice and Virtue Ministry has been actively enforcing the hijab and mahram requirements at public places, offices, and educational institutions. This ministry, acting as the Taliban’s morality police, conducts frequent visits and inspections to ensure compliance.
Recent incidents include the prevention of women without mahrams from accessing health facilities in Paktia province since December. Moreover, arrests have been made for the purchase of contraceptives, despite the lack of an official Taliban ban on their use.
The Taliban’s Defense of Islamic Principles
Responding to the U.N. report, the Taliban’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, dismissed it as largely based on misunderstandings. Mujahid accused the U.N. mission of ignoring or criticizing Islamic law (Shariah). He argued that the implementation of Shariah, including rules on the hijab, male guardianship, and gender segregation in education and employment, is essential in an Islamic government.
Seeking a Better Future
The U.N. report sheds light on the distressing conditions faced by Afghan women under Taliban rule. These restrictions severely curtail their personal freedoms and opportunities for independence. As the world watches, it is crucial to support initiatives that protect and advocate for the rights of Afghan women.
Image: A Taliban fighter in Kabul on Aug. 15, 2023, during the second-anniversary celebrations of the militant takeover.
Source: F5mag.com