Taliban Slaps Brutal New Rules on Afghan Women
Head-to-Toe Burqa Now Mandatory
The Taliban have rolled out one of their toughest controls on women since seizing power. A new decree from leader Hibatullah Akhundzada demands women wear a chadori—a full-body burqa—calling it “traditional and respectful.” The edict was announced at a Taliban function in Kabul, tightening the noose on female freedoms.
Women Banned from Driving Licences in Herat
In Afghanistan’s most progressive city, Herat, officials have told driving instructors to stop handing out licences to women. Jan Agha Achakzai, head of Herat’s Traffic Management Institute, confirmed they received verbal orders to halt female licence issuance. However, he added women are not outright banned from driving in the city—yet.
Schools Shut, Protests Erupt
Last March, just hours after reopening, Taliban forces shuttered girls’ secondary schools across Herat. This cruel U-turn crushed the hopes of thousands of schoolgirls returning to lessons for the first time since Taliban rule began in August. In Kabul, around two dozen women and girls protested, chanting “Herat schools.”
Further Restrictions and a Humanitarian Crisis
The Taliban have also ordered Afghan airlines to forbid women from boarding domestic or international flights without a male escort. Meanwhile, the international community refuses to recognise the Taliban regime amid growing concerns. Sanctions and slashed development aid have crippled Afghanistan’s banking system and fuelled a devastating humanitarian crisis.
The clamps keep tightening on Afghan women’s freedoms—and the world watches on.
