In a shocking move, the Taliban has announced that it will close all national and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Afghanistan that employ women. This decision comes two years after the Taliban ordered NGOs to suspend the employment of Afghan women, citing incorrect wearing of the Islamic headscarf.
The Economy Ministry issued a letter on Sunday, warning that failure to comply with the new order would result in NGOs losing their license to operate in Afghanistan. The ministry claimed responsibility for the registration, coordination, leadership, and supervision of all activities carried out by national and foreign organizations.
The Taliban’s latest move is seen as an attempt to further control and intervene in NGO activity. Earlier this month, the UN Security Council was informed that an increasing number of female Afghan humanitarian workers were being prevented from doing their work, despite the essential nature of relief work.
According to Tom Fletcher, a senior UN official, there has been a significant increase in the proportion of humanitarian organizations reporting that their female staff were being stopped by the Taliban’s morality police. The Taliban, however, denies interfering with aid agencies’ work or stopping them from carrying out their activities.
This move is the latest in a series of restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women’s rights. Women have already been barred from many jobs and most public spaces, and their education has been limited to sixth grade.
In a separate development, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has issued a decree ordering that buildings should not have windows that look into areas where women may be present. The decree applies to both new and existing buildings.
According to the decree, windows should not overlook or look into areas such as yards or kitchens. Building owners are required to obscure the view by installing walls, fences, or screens. Municipalities and other authorities are tasked with supervising the construction of new buildings to ensure compliance with the decree.
The Taliban’s restrictions on women’s rights have sparked widespread condemnation from the international community. The latest moves are seen as a further erosion of women’s rights and freedoms in Afghanistan.
