The Taliban’s ongoing restrictions on Afghan women and girls continue to spark global outrage. One of their most recent moves has been the imposition of a ban on constructing windows in residential buildings that overlook spaces typically used by women. This includes areas like courtyards, kitchens, and wells, where women are often seen performing domestic tasks. Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid stated that such visibility could lead to “obscene acts,” a justification that reflects the severe limitations placed on women’s rights since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021.
Since their return to power, the Taliban has excluded Afghan women from nearly all aspects of public life. Women have been banned from attending schools, universities, and most workplaces, and they are also prohibited from accessing public spaces like parks and bathhouses. This latest window ban is just one of many restrictions targeting women, which include tight regulations on their appearance, movement, and social interactions.
The decree not only forbids windows that provide views into these private spaces but also mandates that municipal authorities ensure compliance. Property owners are advised to block such views by constructing walls or other barriers to prevent what the Taliban considers “nuisances.”
Beyond these architectural restrictions, the Taliban have instituted a range of policies through their Ministry for the “Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.” These include laws that enforce strict dress codes for women, such as wearing face coverings and loose clothing, and bans on women interacting with men who are not family members. Women are also prohibited from reading or reciting the Quran aloud in front of other women, further restricting their religious freedoms.
Additionally, women have been barred from several career paths, with recent reports indicating that women training as midwives and nurses were told to stop attending their courses. This ban is particularly concerning given Afghanistan’s dire maternal health crisis, with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world. Women’s access to education has also been severely limited, with over 1.4 million girls being denied secondary education.
International reactions to these restrictions have been swift. Several countries, including Australia, Canada, and the Netherlands, have initiated legal proceedings against the Taliban for violating international human rights conventions, particularly those related to gender discrimination. Despite widespread condemnation, the Taliban continue to deny any human rights abuses, claiming that their actions are in line with their interpretation of Islamic law.
As Afghanistan remains under Taliban rule, the future for women and girls in the country remains uncertain, with an entire generation’s potential at risk due to the ongoing denial of basic rights and freedoms. The international community continues to call for a change, but for now, the Taliban remain firm in their position, labeling all criticism as foreign interference.
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