Since regaining control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban has rolled out a series of bans that deeply affect nearly every aspect of life in the country. The restrictions primarily focus on enforcing a rigid interpretation of Islamic law, targeting cultural, recreational, social, and gender-specific activities. These measures have drastically limited the rights and freedoms of the Afghan population, particularly women and girls.
Cultural and Recreational Bans
The Taliban has systematically banned cultural and recreational activities that are deemed to conflict with their interpretation of Islamic values. Public music performances have been prohibited, and in 2023, musical instruments were burned in Herat province. Activities such as kite flying and pigeon keeping, once popular pastimes in Afghanistan, have also been outlawed. The government justifies these actions by claiming that such activities distract people, particularly young men, from their religious duties.
Television and media content is heavily censored, with shows that feature music, satire, or female actors removed from the airwaves. The display of images of living beings—whether humans or animals—is forbidden, including in advertisements and shop displays. Photography for entertainment purposes is also restricted.
Gender-Specific Restrictions
The Taliban’s policies have imposed severe limitations on women and girls. Education for girls has been severely curtailed, with secondary schools and universities closed to them. Even vocational training programs are being phased out. Women are largely restricted from working outside the home, and many have lost their jobs, particularly in NGOs and humanitarian organizations.
Women must also be accompanied by a male guardian when traveling long distances and are banned from entering parks, gyms, and other public spaces. Dress codes are strictly enforced, with the burqa being mandatory in many regions. Any deviation from these dress codes can result in punishment for both the woman and her male guardian.
In 2023, the Taliban ordered the closure of all women’s beauty salons, eliminating one of the last remaining spaces where women could socialize and receive services.
Healthcare and Media
Women’s access to healthcare has been severely restricted, with limitations on visiting male doctors and a significant reduction in the number of female healthcare workers. This has led to a collapse in women’s healthcare, especially in rural areas.
The media landscape has also been affected, with female journalists required to cover their faces while reporting. Many have left the profession due to harassment, bans, and fears of persecution.
Justification and Global Reactions
The Taliban justifies these extensive bans as efforts to enforce its version of Islamic morality. Activities that are perceived to promote “moral corruption,” challenge gender roles, or distract from religious duties are swiftly prohibited. The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice plays a central role in enforcing these measures, often without a formal judicial process.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have condemned these actions, describing them as “gender apartheid” and “cultural suffocation.” The United Nations has issued repeated warnings that the Taliban’s policies violate basic human rights and international law, further isolating Afghanistan from the global community.
