Continuing the increasing restrictions on women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice announced on Tuesday, July 2, 2023, that beauty salons must close across the country by the order of this group. Mohammad Sadiq Akif, spokesperson for the Ministry, stated that salons have one month to shut their doors. Foreign governments and United Nations officials have condemned the growing restrictions on Afghan women since the Taliban regained power after defeating the then-government of Afghanistan and the withdrawal of foreign forces in the summer of 2021. Last year, officials closed most girls' high schools, prevented women from entering universities, and barred many Afghan women from working. Many public places, including baths, gyms, and parks, have been closed to women. A few months after the Taliban was ousted from power in late 2001, beauty salons reopened in Kabul and other cities in Afghanistan. However, many of their services have been restricted since the Taliban regained power two years ago. Salons are usually exclusively for women and cover their windows to prevent customers from being seen from outside. A woman resident in Kabul told Reuters that with the new order, she feels the last safe space for women to socialize outside their homes has been cut off: 'Going to the park is forbidden for women, and the beauty salon was a good place for us to meet our friends and see other women and girls, and talk about various issues... From now on, I don't know how we can see each other and talk together. This order will have a significant impact on women across Afghanistan.' Western governments and international organizations have stated that restrictions against women hinder any potential recognition of the Taliban government on a global scale. However, the Taliban government claims it respects women's rights 'within the framework of its interpretation of Islamic laws and Afghan customs.' This report is based on a Reuters article.
Taliban Government Orders Closure of Women's Beauty Salons in Afghanistan
The Taliban has ordered the closure of all women's beauty salons in Afghanistan, further restricting women's rights and social spaces. This decision has drawn condemnation from international bodies and highlights the ongoing repression of women under Taliban rule. The situation poses significant challenges for the global recognition of the Taliban government.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The Taliban has ordered the closure of all women's beauty salons in Afghanistan, further restricting women's rights and social spaces. This decision has drawn condemnation from international bodies and highlights the ongoing repression of women under Taliban rule.
- Beauty salons were one of the few remaining social spaces for women in Afghanistan.
- The Taliban's restrictions on women's rights have intensified since they regained power in 2021.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Since the Taliban regained control in 2021, they have imposed severe restrictions on women's rights, reversing many gains made over the previous two decades. Beauty salons had become a rare space for women to gather and socialize.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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