By Emily Bahar
On January 1, 2025, the Taliban implemented a “window ban” in both new and old residential buildings in Afghanistan, so that women can’t be seen doing such activities as cooking in kitchens, traversing courtyards, and even basic actions like sitting or standing. Men viewing women outside their families constitutes “obscene acts” and “nuisances caused to neighbours.” If a residential building does contain a window, then the window is required to be blocked by a wall in front. In Afghanistan, the Taliban are making women physically invisible in society.
In January 2023, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women reported that the Taliban restricted women and girls from schooling, and it was later reported in April of that same year that one-third of Afghan women have never stepped foot in a classroom. By July 2023, women were no longer permitted to earn an income. The restriction of 1.1 million girls from education has led to an “increase in the rate of early childbearing by 45 per cent; and an increased risk of maternal mortality by at least 50 percent.” Additionally, 29 percent of women under 18 were married, with 9.6 percent under the age of 15.
As of December 2021, women are prohibited from walking alone in public and must be accompanied by a male figure. If a woman is spotted violating this policy, she will become subject to harassment, harsh penalties, and risk incarceration. According to the World Health Organization, 90 percent of Afghan women and girls have suffered domestic violence, 17 percent faced sexual assault, and 52 percent experienced physical abuse. In a survey reported by the United Nations, eight percent of participants were aware of at least one Afghan woman that has attempted sucide since the Taliban takeover in 2021.
The Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist group, emerged in 1994 in the wake of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979-1989). After Afghanistan declared victory over the Soviets in 1989, the country fell into a civil war between the Mujahideen and the Islamic State of Afghanistan (ISA). From this civil war, the Taliban group emerged from the Mujahideen rose to power, and by 1996, ruled ¾ of the nation. Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, American troops occupied Afghanistan for 20 years. When the American troops withdrew their forces in 2021, the Taliban resumed their authority. Amnesty International reported that Afghanistan is ranked as one of highest perpetrators of gender violence.
If the Taliban continue to outlaw women and girls from academics, the United Nations projects that Afghanistan will lose 9.6 billion U.S. dollars by 2066. This is due to the restriction on education and job opportunities for women under Taliban rule. This is exacerbated by the population decrease by nearly 10 million in Afghanistan since the Taliban rose to power.
Consequently, women in Afghanistan must risk their lives to get the basic necessities that Americans take for granted.
Image Source: Afghanistan Analysts Network