The Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan has ushered in a new era of oppression, particularly for women. Afghan women have to deal with Taliban restrictions affecting all aspects of society and their lives — from education and employment to public services and access to justice.
The group’s radical interpretation of Islamic law has led to a slew of draconian regulations that have stripped women of their basic rights and freedoms, and there is no indication of an end.
Taliban’s ban on girls’ education
One of the most devastating consequences of the Taliban’s rule is the ban on girls’ education. On 12 September 2021, the Taliban banned girls from secondary education and announced that girls’ schools would remain closed until further notice, sparking widespread outrage and condemnation. This move has effectively denied millions of girls the right to education, condemning them to a life of illiteracy and poverty.
Women in higher institutions have also been blocked from choosing agriculture, mining, civil engineering, veterinary medicine and journalism as their university major. Taliban said these subjects are “too difficult for women”. Then on 20 December of the same year, women were banned from public and private universities until further notice.
By the verbal order of Haibatullah on 5 December 2024, the Taliban has ordered all private educational institutions in Afghanistan to cease female medical education. As a result of the order, all institutions offering training in midwifery, dental prosthetics, nursing, and laboratory sciences are now barred from enrolling or teaching female students.
Restrictions on women’s employment
Since the Taliban took power, professional opportunities for women have been severely restricted. On 24 March 2022, by the verbal order of Haibatullah, women were forbidden from working in offices, causing a lot of women to lose their jobs. Those who can work from home must be married and also be represented by male relatives to whom their salaries are paid.
The Taliban has also imposed severe restrictions on women’s employment, banning them from working in most sectors. Women are only allowed to work in certain areas, such as healthcare and education, and even then, they are required to wear a hijab and be accompanied by a male chaperone. Female doctors are also not permitted to treat male patients or work together with their male colleagues.
The failures of the justice system on the well-being of women
As the Taliban swept through the country, seizing power in 2021, they systematically released prisoners, many of whom had been imprisoned for committing acts of gender-based violence.
Leeda, a mother who was reunited with her husband and abuser, says “My body is always bruised, now I am used to it, I have to tolerate it.” She also expresses hesitation to report the abuse because “my husband will report to the Taliban, and they will come for me.”
In their defence, the Taliban told the U.N. that the handling of the cases of violence against women is “based on Sharia law and there is no injustice committed against women.”
According to the UN’s report, the Taliban closed all the women’s protection centres in Afghanistan where female survivors of family violence would take refuge. They are sending women who complain to them about gender-based violence to prison.
In another case, the Taliban Invalidated thousands of divorce cases that were decided during the Afghan republic, forcing divorced child brides to return to their adult former husbands.
On 11 November 2023, the Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health in a letter informed the Ministry of Economy that programs related to public awareness, women’s health centres, social behaviour, and mental health offered outside government-run health centres by NGOs are prohibited thereby shutting down all avenues for women to access the care they need.
Taliban’s rules on dress code and public appearance
The Taliban has enforced a strict dress code for women, requiring them to wear a burqa or a hijab in public. In general, they are only allowed to leave their house for urgent matters and have to wear full veils if they do.
Women who flout the dress code put their male relatives at risk of imprisonment. Presenters on TV news programs have to wear a full veil during the broadcast.
Also, women are not allowed to move around in public spaces unless they are in the company of a male chaperone classed as a “mahram,” effectively restricting their freedom of movement.
Ban on women’s sports
In another shocking move, the Taliban banned women’s sports, deeming them “un-Islamic.”
In September 2021—less than a month after the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan—the Taliban banned women and girls from participating in sports.
The Taliban said it banned women from sports because it might lead to the “inappropriate and immoral exposure of women’s bodies.” It’s clear this decision was not based on morality, but rather on control and oppression.
Three women and three men represented Afghanistan at the 2024 Olympics, yet the Taliban refused to acknowledge the female Afghan athletes. Atal Mashwani, a spokesperson from the Taliban’s National Olympic Committee, said, “Only three athletes (the men) are representing Afghanistan.”
Violence and intimidation against women activists
The Taliban’s war on women is not just limited to laws and regulations but also their freedom of speech. Women who dare to speak out against the regime or defy its rules are often subjected to violence and intimidation. There have been numerous reports of women being beaten, arrested, and even killed for daring to challenge the Taliban’s authority.
Taliban gunmen have raided the homes of women’s rights activists, beating and arresting female campaigners for being involved in protesters against the government and flouting the regime’s repressive policies on women and girls.
Hope for an end to the injustice against women
The Taliban’s laws against women are a stark reminder of the dangers of extremism and the importance of protecting women’s rights. Nonetheless, Afghan women continue to fight for their rights and against the fundamentalism of the Taliban – even if they face severe reprisals.
As the international community, it is our responsibility to speak out against these injustices and to support the brave women of Afghanistan who are fighting for their freedom and dignity.
