The trajectory of women’s rights in Afghanistan has taken a grim turn under Taliban rule, marking a regression toward gender apartheid. The Taliban’s rigid interpretation of Islamic law has resulted in the systematic suppression of women’s rights and freedoms. Since reclaiming power in 2021, they have enforced stringent measures such as banning girls from attending school beyond grade six and prohibiting women from pursuing higher education since December 2022. This erosion of educational opportunities has exacerbated the country’s economic crisis and led to a surge in suicides among women and girls. Despite the mounting risks, Afghans continue to flee their homeland in search of safety and opportunity. Women in Afghanistan suffer exclusionary policies and face a gender apartheid that leaves them foundering in darkness, and at the mercy of a hostile patriarchy controlling their destiny.
The Taliban’s oppressive policies have garnered widespread condemnation globally, with no nation recognizing them as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. Their exclusionary governance and blatant human rights violations have led to diplomatic isolation and economic repercussions. Despite international pressure and negative publicity, the Taliban remain resolute in their pursuit of an exclusionary agenda. Calls for engagement with the Taliban, including proposals to utilize madrassas as alternative educational institutions, have emerged as contentious points of debate. Advocates argue for adaptation to the restrictions imposed by the Taliban, emphasizing the need for pragmatic approaches to sustain educational opportunities. However, reliance on madrassas as a substitute for comprehensive public education raises concerns about the quality of instruction and the potential for ideological indoctrination.
The Taliban’s imposition of stringent regulations and policies has systematically restricted women and girls from exercising their basic rights, encompassing freedoms of assembly, movement, employment, and education. These regulations not only curtail individual liberties but also infringe upon broader rights such as the right to livelihood, access to healthcare, food, and water. Similarly, the Taliban’s recent decision to permit girls to enrol in madrassas signals a troubling compromise that falls short of addressing the fundamental issue of women’s rights. Despite assertions that engagement could moderate the Taliban’s stance, existing political and economic interactions have failed to sway the group’s hard line policies. The entrenched leadership, led by Hibatullah Akhundzada, remains indifferent to international pressure, prioritizing their narrow interpretation of Islamic law over broader humanitarian concerns. A ban implemented on December 24, 2022, prohibits women from engaging in employment with both local and international NGOs, except in specific roles related to health, nutrition, and education, further exacerbating the financial struggles faced by many women. This prohibition has not only hindered aid delivery to women and girls but also complicated efforts to assess and address their humanitarian needs, particularly in accessing essential provisions like food and other necessities. Moreover, the Taliban’s directives extend beyond the ban on women’s employment within the UN and international NGOs, extending to their exclusion from public sector jobs and senior positions within governmental institutions, leaving many women who served under the former government unemployed.
Across numerous provinces in Afghanistan, authorities have imposed stringent regulations. These include the restriction of requiring women to be accompanied by male relatives when leaving their homes, including for work-related purposes, while mandating the wearing of full hijabs and veiling of faces in public settings. The tightening grip of Taliban authorities throughout 2023 has seen an escalation in repressive measures, including the denial of 63 women’s travel to the United Arab Emirates for scholarship acceptance, the shuttering of all beauty salons resulting in the loss of 60,000 jobs for women, and the prohibition of women’s visits to Band-e-Amir National Park. Furthermore, the Taliban security forces have responded to women’s protests against their policies with excessive force, arbitrarily detaining female demonstrators and their family members, subjecting them to hours or days of confinement, and, in some instances, torture. Notable among those detained in 2023 were Neda Parwani and Zholia Parsi, both apprehended by Taliban forces in September.
The UN’s Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Afghanistan, alongside the Working Group on discrimination against women and girls, conducted a visit to Afghanistan in April and May, culminating in a report to the UN Human Rights Council in June. The report highlighted the pervasive and systematic discrimination experienced by women and girls in Afghanistan, characterizing it as gender persecution and an institutionalized form of gender apartheid.
Efforts to promote engagement with the Taliban should prioritize the voices of Afghan women and heed their calls for the restoration of their rights. Women across Afghanistan have expressed reservations about closer ties with the Taliban, emphasizing the paramount importance of improving women’s rights as a precondition for any diplomatic recognition. The international community must prioritize the restoration of educational opportunities for all Afghan citizens, reaffirming the fundamental right to education as a cornerstone of democracy and human dignity. In confronting the women’s rights crisis in Afghanistan, policymakers must resist the allure of expedient compromises that sacrifice fundamental principles. Diplomatic initiatives should align with the aspirations of Afghan women, advocating for meaningful reforms that empower them to reclaim their rightful place in society. The restoration of women’s rights must be central to any engagement strategy, reinforcing the universal values of equality and justice. As the international community navigates the complexities of diplomatic engagement, it must remain steadfast in its commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of Afghan women, ensuring that their struggle for equality does not falter in the shadow of oppression.
