A United Nations report released on Monday (22nd January) asserts that Afghan women who are single or lack a male guardian are having their access to employment, travel, and healthcare restricted by the Taliban.
In one case, officials from the Vice and Virtue Ministry encouraged a woman to marry if she wanted to keep her employment at a healthcare facility, claiming it was unsuitable for an unmarried woman to work.
Despite initially pledging more moderate leadership, the Taliban restricted women from most spheres of public life and prevented females from attending school beyond sixth grade as part of harsh restrictions adopted after gaining power in 2021.
They have also closed beauty salons and begun enforcing a dress code, arresting women who do not adhere to their version of hijab, or Islamic headscarf. In May 2022, the Taliban issued an order requiring women to only expose their eyes and advising them to wear the head-to-toe burqa, similar to restrictions imposed under the Taliban’s previous administration from 1996 to 2001.
UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric commented on the recent UN report. He stated that women in Afghanistan are facing horror and that it is unimaginable to have a life there.
According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan’s most recent quarterly report, which covers the period from October to December of last year, the Taliban are tightening down on Afghan women who are single or do not have a male guardian, or mahram, with them.
There are no official rules in Afghanistan governing male guardianship, although the Taliban have stated that women cannot move or go beyond a certain distance without the presence of a man connected to them by blood or marriage.
Last October, three female healthcare workers were jailed for going to work without a mahram. According to the report, they were released after their families signed a written agreement promising not to repeat the conduct.
Since December, the Vice and Virtue Ministry in Paktia province has prohibited women without ‘mahrams’ (male guardian) from accessing healthcare facilities. It inspects health establishments around the province to guarantee compliance.
The ministry, which acts as the Taliban’s morality police, also enforces hijab and mahram rules for women who visit public areas, offices, and educational institutions via checkpoints and inspections.
“In December, in Kandahar province, ministry officials visited a bus terminal to ensure women were not traveling long distances without mahrams and instructed bus drivers not to permit women to board without one,” the UN said.
Women have also been imprisoned for purchasing contraception, something the Taliban does not officially prohibit.
Meanwhile, the Taliban’s chief spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid refuted the UN report and claimed that the report has been crafted based on misunderstanding. He also accused the UN mission of ignoring or criticizing Islamic law, or Shariah.
“With an Islamic government in power in Afghanistan, it must “fully implement all aspects of Shariah for both men and women. This means enforcing rules for the hijab, male guardianship, and gender segregation for women in education and employment,” Mujahid said in a statement.
“If UNAMA criticizes these cases or considers explicit Islamic rulings as an act against human rights, then it is an insult to the beliefs of a people,” he added.