Three years after the Taliban’s return to power, Afghan women are witnessing a severe erosion of their rights. On August 21, the Taliban introduced a new set of laws aimed at controlling every aspect of Afghan life, with a particular focus on women’s roles.
The 114-page decree mandates that women cover their bodies and faces completely when outside and bans them from speaking publicly. Critics argue that these measures are an attack on women’s very existence. Chekeba Hachemi, president of Free Afghanistan, condemned the laws as a deliberate effort to suppress women, while Hamida Aman of Begum TV lamented the extreme restrictions placed on women’s visibility and voice.
International bodies, including the UN, the European Union, and human rights organizations, have expressed deep concern over the new regulations, many of which formalize practices that have been informally enforced since the Taliban regained control in August 2021. The UN has called for the immediate repeal of the laws, describing them as a distressing sign for Afghanistan’s future.
Human Rights Watch labeled the laws as a severe attack on women’s rights, and the EU condemned them as a setback for gender equality and a barrier to normalizing relations with Afghanistan. In response, the Taliban dismissed Western criticism as arrogance and continued to reject international pressure.
The situation for Afghan women has worsened since the Taliban’s return. While there was initial optimism that the Taliban might moderate its stance to gain international recognition, this hope quickly faded as the regime realized it would not secure formal recognition or access to frozen assets. The Taliban’s current stance reflects a hardline approach, with no intention of compromising on women’s rights.
The international community’s focus has shifted to security concerns, overshadowing the plight of Afghan women. Despite regional efforts to engage with the Taliban on security and trade, human rights issues, particularly those affecting women, remain largely neglected.
Afghan women continue to resist by using social media to draw attention to their struggles. Activists like Taiba Sulaimani are using platforms like X (Twitter) to assert their presence and call for their rights, despite the severe restrictions imposed on them.
