According to the Taliban, windows that would allow women to be viewed from the outside of residential houses are prohibited because they may encourage inappropriate behaviour. This limitation, which is applicable to both new and existing structures, requires owners to obstruct views of spaces like kitchens and courtyards that are frequently used by women. Human Rights Watch and other critics contend that this action adds to the Taliban’s already extensive list of repressive practices by further erasing women’s rights and autonomy in Afghanistan.
Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban have routinely curtailed women’s rights, preventing them from participating in sports, public places, work, and education. Women are prohibited from working for non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and organisations that hire female employees risk having their licenses revoked. The United Nations has cautioned that these restrictions have serious humanitarian repercussions since they impede relief efforts in a nation already struggling with crises and poverty. The Taliban maintain more stringent regulations on women’s participation in society, despite their denials of meddling in NGO operations.
Ban on women leaving their houses without a male guardian.
Recent Taliban decrees prohibiting windows in residential buildings are part of a larger trend of stringent measures meant to regulate the lives of women. Similar severe restrictions were enforced by the Taliban during their first rule, which lasted from 1996 to 2001. These included a ban on women leaving their houses without a male guardian and a ban on their attending school past primary school. The frequent public flogging of women for alleged moral transgressions further cemented their dread and subservience. They implemented these policies in the name of upholding their understanding of Islamic law.
Similar limitations have been employed as control measures in other countries. Prior to recent revisions, Saudi Arabian women were not allowed to drive or travel on their own and needed male guardians for the majority of public activities. Government crackdowns on women’s protests against mandatory hijab Legislation have escalated in Iran. Those who disobey can face jail time, fines, and corporal punishment. Under the Taliban rule, Afghan women say they feel more alone and less human.
Resistance of Afghan women persists in spite of these obstacles.
Numerous Afghan women shared their experiences of Mental Health issues brought on by the restricted restrictions, with one describing life as being stuck “in a perpetual prison.” The exclusion of women from the majority of public positions, such as those in healthcare, education, and humanitarian work, has made the already bad economic situation even worse. Due to cultural conventions that prohibit male workers from interacting directly with female beneficiaries in conservative rural communities, the exclusion of women from NGOs has posed serious challenges for assistance organisations.
Governments and international organisations have strongly condemned the action. Afghanistan is currently the world’s most restrictive country for women, according to the UN. Humanitarian aid through non-Taliban-affiliated organisations, more financing for women-led Afghan organisations, and targeted penalties on Taliban officials have all been demanded by activists around the world. The resistance of Afghan women persists in spite of these obstacles. From underground schools to covert meetings where women plan demonstrations, grassroots movements have taken many different forms. Afghan women’s voices have been amplified through the platforms of artists, singers, and authors.
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Singer Elaha Soroor, for example, has written songs that celebrate the bravery and tenacity of women. Urban areas have seen protests with chants like “Bread, Work, Freedom,” which represent Afghan women’s general desire to regain their rights. These limitations have serious economic repercussions. Before the Taliban regained power, women were becoming more and more productive members of the workforce, making a substantial contribution to the GDP of the country. Decades of advancement have been undone by the exclusion of women from the workforce and educational system, which has left families broke and Poverty levels rising. In addition to alienating foreign funders, the Taliban’s actions have put additional burden on Afghanistan’s already precarious economy.