The Taliban has introduced new laws in Afghanistan that ban women from speaking in public, further restricting their presence and freedoms. The new regulations, which also require women to fully conceal themselves outside the home, intensify the existing limits on women’s rights imposed since the Taliban took power in August 2021.
International organizations, including the United Nations, have strongly condemned these measures. Roza Otunbayeva, head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, described the laws as a “distressing vision” for the country’s future, highlighting the growing oppression of women under the Taliban regime.
Since their return to power, the Taliban has rolled back nearly all progress on women’s rights, banning girls from school beyond the sixth grade, preventing women from working, and shutting them out of public spaces like gyms and parks. The new laws further solidify the Taliban’s control over Afghan society.
Despite global outrage, including from human rights organizations, the Taliban has shown no signs of backing down. Several countries, such as Russia, China, and the UAE, have begun establishing informal diplomatic ties with the regime, raising concerns about legitimizing the Taliban’s rule.
As Afghan women face increasing oppression, rights groups are calling for stronger international action to hold the Taliban accountable and support the rights of Afghan women and girls.
