Amrutha Avasarala, Pune
The United Nations released a report on 22nd January 2024, stating the restrictions imposed on women by the Taliban.
The report reveals that unmarried women are not allowed to go for work, receive healthcare and even travel. They must be accompanied either by a male with blood relation, known as “mahram” in Islam, or husband. Strict dress codes are enforced. All those not wearing hijabs are being arrested. Women are advised to show only their eyes. In addition, all women are asked to wear head-to-toe hijab. Moreover, beauty parlors are shut down as well.
There is no official law in Afghanistan stating the constant escorting of women by their male guardians. Yet the Taliban government has ordered women to not travel alone a certain distance without their male counterparts either related by blood or marriage. The report mentions that even boarding buses alone is not allowed.
According to the report, the Vice and Virtue Ministry has advised women to get married if they have to secure their jobs. They say it is inappropriate for single women to work. Hundreds of women were forced to quit jobs as a result of this law.
In another case, three healthcare workers were stopped from going to work without a mahram. They were detained in jail for this purpose. It was only after their families presented a written assurance of not letting the incident happen again, they were released.
Women were also arrested for buying contraceptives. But the Taliban have yet to make the ban official.
Zabihullah Mujahid, on behalf of the Taliban, said that the UN report released on 22nd January 2024 is based on misunderstandings, and stated that it is a move to criticize or not taking into consideration the Shariah or the Islamic law.
Taliban’s rule in Afghanistan has been harsh and rigid since the time it has taken over Afghanistan. The group claimed that the country is being run according to their Islamic law called the Shariah. Girls are not allowed to get educated beyond class 6 in the country. They are adopting a madrasa system of education. It would include study of the Quran, Islamic law, religious subjects and the Hadith (narratives of Prophet Muhammad).