The Taliban regime announced this Sunday (26) that women who A person wishing to travel long distances must be accompanied by a person from their immediate family, Despite its initial promises, a new sign of hardening of the regime.
The recommendation, issued by Afghanistan’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Addiction and circulating on social media, asks drivers to admit women in their vehicles only if they wear an “Islamic veil”.
“Women traveling more than 45 miles (72 km) cannot travel unless they are accompanied by a close relative,” ministry spokesman Sadiq Akif Muhajir told AFP.
A woman wearing a burqa walks past a window with images of models painted white in Kabul, Afghanistan on October 6 – Photo: Reuters / Jorge Silva
The directive was issued just weeks after the ministry asked the country’s television channels not to show “soap operas with women”, and required journalists to wear an “Islamic veil” in front of cameras.
The Taliban has not clarified what it considers an “Islamic veil”, whether it is simply a scarf or a face covering.
Since coming to power in August, the Taliban has adopted a number of restrictions on women and girls, despite early promises that the regime would be less harsh than its predecessor (1996–2001).
In many provinces, local authorities have agreed to open schools for girls, although many of them are still unable to attend classes.
October 9 – A Taliban fighter takes a picture at an amusement park outside Kabul, Afghanistan. Mustashed from Wardak province enjoys his day visiting Kabul for the first time – Photo: Jorge Silva/Reuters/Arquivo
In early December, a decree from the supreme leader of the Taliban movement called on the government to uphold women’s rights, but the document does not mention the right to education.
Human rights activists expect concessions from the movement as a result of the Taliban’s efforts to gain recognition from the international community and much-needed aid for the country, one of the world’s poorest.
During their first government, the Taliban forced women to wear the burqa. They were only allowed to leave the house with one man and were not allowed to work or study.
Know the difference between Islamic State and Taliban
