10 Human Rights Violations Against Women by the Taliban in Afghanistan

The Taliban's mistreatment of women has long been a concern of human rights groups, and the current activities have raised concerns even higher. The Taliban, since they seized power in 2021, have issued strict policies that have systematically denied Afghan women their rights and freedoms. This article looks at new policies that further violate Afghan women's rights and the implications they may have on their lifestyles and societal impacts in general.

1. Limitations in Education

The single most glaring human rights violation that women have faced under the Taliban regime is the prohibition on the education of girls beyond the sixth grade. This is to further explain that women are not allowed access to further education. The Taliban has refused international calls to lift such restrictions, citing that they comply with their version of Islamic law. This denial of education opportunities excludes Afghan women from practicing in various fields, which badly reduces their potential contribution to the future social and economic development of Afghanistan.

 2.  Employment Restrictions

The Taliban has enacted new laws that bar women from professional employment in many fields, including the government and international organizations. Thousands of qualified women teachers, medical workers, and lawyers lost their jobs or were put under house arrest. For those women who do find employment in some sectors, strict restrictions on movement, clothing, and interaction with male colleagues mean unsafe, unsupportive environments.

3. Ban on Women's Public Spaces and Activities

Public spaces have also become highly restricted for Afghan women. The parks, gyms, and other recreational facilities are now a no-go area justified by the Taliban to preserve the moral fabric of Afghan society. This ban has deep impacts on the physical and mental health of women who now remain confined within their homes, hardly getting any opportunities to interact with their surroundings or exercise physically. The ban not only curbs women's freedom but also affects the sense of communalism and well-being arising from these social spaces.

4. Policing Women's Dress and Behavior

The Taliban's imposition of the hijab and its more rigid forms of veiling have created a culture where women live in fear and compliance. Afghan women are expected to wear clothing that covers every part of their body, only leaving their eyes, so they can move around without bumping into things. In addition to this, they are not allowed to put on high heels. Any woman who is not in full compliance with Taliban-imposed rules regarding clothing is publicly shamed, punished, or even jailed. The Taliban's Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice continuously polices women's outward appearances and behaviors, thereby creating a culture of espionage and terror that suppresses any semblance of personal freedoms.

5. Women Can't Have Access To Male Doctors

The Taliban's legislation controlling women's access to medical treatment has caused a humanitarian crisis in public health. It was reported that many women had been denied access to medical care due to the restrictions barring male doctors from attending to women patients. Because the Taliban have discouraged the employment of females, especially within medical fields, there are fewer female healthcare workers, which further restricts access to proper healthcare for Afghan women. Maternal and infant mortality rates, along with diseases, will go untreated and increase. This begs the question of whether they are deliberately trying to harm women or are doing this in the name of promoting virtue and morality. 

6. Restrictions on Mobile Phone Ownership 

As part of their new rights infringement, women in Afghanistan are not allowed to own or use mobile phones. According to the Taliban, mobile phones give them exposure to cultures, which would make women rebel and adopt certain unacceptable behaviors. 

7. Not Allowed To Speak in Public Or Speak Loudly 

Afghan women have been prohibited from speaking in public or even speaking loudly even if they are in their homes. Once you are seen outside as a woman, you need to keep to yourself and go about whatever you have to do. This policy is what they term "women are supposed to be seen and not be heard." They are not also allowed to speak freely to their fellow women. Wherever there are a group of women, they are expected to sit quietly without talking to one another or just walk past themselves without uttering a word or even making eye contact. 

8. Women Can't Look At Men They Don't Know 

To further promote morality, women are also not allowed to look at men they do not know. Thus, if a stranger knocks on your door, you are not allowed to look at them in the face. The Talian believes that this act prevents immorality.

9. Not Allowed To Own A Car Or Ride A Taxi 

Owning a car in Afghanistan as a woman is highly prohibited. As a woman whose place is essentially in the kitchen and keeping the house clean, women are not supposed to own cars, drive in a car, or even ride in a taxi. This has got many confused as they do not know how owning and driving a car has anything to do with promoting morality and virtue. 

10. Women Are Not Allowed To Travel Alone Or Go Abroad 

The least of these demeaning human rights infringements against Afghan women is their inability to travel abroad or to travel alone. As always, women are expected to be accompanied by men if they want to travel with their country. Traveling outside the country is a no-no for women. 

The Taliban, despite the global outcry, seems to continue blatant disregard for international calls to recognize the rights of women, many times defending policies as an internal issue connected with their interpretation of religious beliefs. The international community has vocalized heavily and struggled to find effective interventions, hence leaving Afghan women in a lurch. Afghan women are suffering a humanitarian crisis under the Taliban regime, where their almost every move is controlled, restricted, or diminished. This calls for immediate attention from the international community, regional leaders, and human rights organizations to scale up efforts toward meaningful strategies that restore women's rights and protect Afghan women from further oppression.