Episodes of oppression of women and girls have emerged in Afghanistan again despite Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid in August having vowed: “to recognise and honour women rights as per Islamic Law”. Recently, the Taliban have started a new rule for women of Afghanistan Stating that women seeking to travel should not be offered transport unless they are accompanied by a close ‘male relative’.
The guidelines, issued by the Ministry for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, also ask vehicle owners to offer rides only to women in Islamic hijabs. These stringent rules have come just weeks after Afghanistan’s television channels were ordered to stop showing dramas and soap operas featuring women actors.
The order states, “Women travelling for over 45 miles (72 kilometres) should not be offered a ride if they are not accompanied by a close family member.” The order straightforwardly mentions that the family remember refers to a ‘close male relative’ only.
The Ministry has additionally requested that women journalists must wear hijabs while anchoring the news on TV. Furthermore, the Ministry also declared that car drivers won’t be allowed to play music in their vehicles, as of now. Currently, the schools have been granted permission to resume in certain regions, but numerous young women in the country are as yet unable to seek education.
Earlier, the Taliban had issued a decree ordering the government to enforce women’s rights. However, The decree did not have any mention girls’ access to education. Ever since the Taliban took control over Afghanistan, rights for women have been changed and violated various times.
