Since seizing control in Afghanistan, the Taliban has been systematically stripping women of their rights and freedoms. In their latest move, they have ordered the closure of women’s beauty salons within one month.
Social media was abuzz with a circulated decree claiming that Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada had banned women’s beauty salons in the capital city of Kabul and other provinces. A spokesman for the Taliban-run Virtue and Vice Ministry, Mohammad Sidik Akif Mahajar confirmed the validity of these claims in a statement.
According to the new regulations, women’s hair salons and beauty parlors are given one month to cease their operations.
An Afghan woman, speaking to the BBC, expressed her dismay, stating, “The Taliban is stripping Afghan women of their most basic human rights.” She further added, “They are violating women’s rights and preventing them from serving other women. I was utterly shocked when I heard the news. It seems that the Taliban’s political agenda revolves solely around controlling women’s bodies. They are attempting to erase women from all aspects of public life.”
An unidentified business owner, speaking to TOLO News due to security concerns, protested against the decision, saying, “If the men in the family become unemployed, we cannot leave our homes. What can we do? Shall we starve to death? Is that what you want?”
Their defiant words reflect the frustration and resistance faced by many who are impacted by this ruling.
Taliban Shows No Signs of Stopping
The once vibrant salons now stand with closed shutters, their windows spray-painted to cover up images of women. This is not the first time beauty salons have faced closure under Taliban rule, as they had been shut down during their previous reign from 1996 to 2001.
Since the Taliban took power, they have been systematically stripping women of their rights and freedoms. First, girls were prohibited from attending universities, high schools, and middle schools. Despite Taliban officials announcing that girls’ schools would be reorganized within an “Islamic framework” and reopened soon, the schools remain closed. In November, women were banned from entering parks in Kabul. Most recently, the Taliban shut down “Women’s Voice,” a radio station operated by women.
Source: NTV, BBC Turkish, Bianet