Taliban’s Decrees and Directives Infringing on the Rights of Women and Men

Schools

• August 30, 2021: Declared ban on co-education and prohibited men from teaching girls.  
• September 12, 2021: Banned girls from secondary education.  
• ‌January 3, 2022: Closed blind girls' schools in Nangarhar and Kunar.
• March 17, 2022: Announced the reopening of girls’ schools at the start of 1401 (March 2022) school year.  
• March 24, 2022: Announced schools for girls in grades 7 and up will remain closed.   
• June 1, 2022: Ordered female students in Ghazni in grades 4-6 to cover their faces while commuting to school or face expulsion.  
• September 11, 2022: Closed secondary and high schools for girls that had briefly opened in Paktia.  
• October 6, 2022: Expelled hundreds of pubescent female students in Kandahar based on verbal instruction of Taliban’s education authorities. 
• December 22, 2022: Banned girls beyond grade 6 from attending private courses. 
• June 8, 2023: Banned foreign NGOs from providing educational programs including Community-Based Education. According to UNICEF, it will impact half a million students, specifically 300 thousand girls.
• October 22, 2023: The Kandahar religious police conveyed through a letter to elementary schools and women's madrasas that, moving forward, the only accepted form of hijab is the burqa. Source: contacts on the ground
• February 22, 2024: The Taliban in Kandahar have issued directives instructing school principals to prohibit girls aged 10 and above from attending classes below the sixth grade. In the same directive, the Taliban have mandated those girls in grades four to six must wear face coverings during their journey to school.
• March 31, 2024: Taliban closed several female educational centers in Kabul for registering female students beyond 6th grade.
• April 2024: The Taliban’s Education Department of Kabul Province issued a commitment letter to owners of private schools, outlining a series of ten points to which the owners/administrators are pledging adherence. One of these points declares, "I confirm my agreement to adhere to the decision to suspend schooling for female students from grades 7 to 12..." Source: copy of the letter
• June 4, 2024: The Department of Education in Bamyan issued a letter, signed by Qari Enayatullh Sahaar, stating that in all schools where students follow both Hanafi and Jafari jurisprudence, but only use textbooks based on one of these jurisprudences, the textbooks will be replaced with books from both Hanafi and Jafari traditions. Source: copy of the letter

[back]

Universities

• September 29, 2021: Women banned from attending and teaching at Kabul University.  
• April 24, 2022: Ordered universities to enforce gender-segregated classrooms.  
• August 16, 2022: Made attending religious classes mandatory in universities, adding five new religious subjects to the existing eight. 
• August 29, 2022: Ordered female university students to cover their faces in classrooms.   
• April 29, 2022: Announced that universities were to offer lessons three days of the week for female students and three days for male students to ensure gender segregation.  
• October 7, 2022: Blocked women from choosing agriculture, mining, civil engineering, veterinary medicine and journalism as their university major. Taliban said these subjects are too difficult for women. 
• December 20, 2022: Banned female students from public and private universities until further notice. 
• December 24, 2022: Ministry of Higher Education issued a letter clarifying that only higher education for girls is suspended and madrasas education is not. Source: copy of the letter
• January 21, 2023: The Ministry of Higher Education, in a letter to institutions of higher education, ordered the exclusion of females from university entry exam. Source: copy of the letter
• January 25, 2023: Ministry of Higher Education, in a letter to Kabul University, instructed female lecturers to sign their timesheets on the last Thursday of the month in a designated location in the north entrance of the campus. Source: copy of the letter
• March 6, 2023: Instructed institutes of higher education to only admit male students in the forthcoming academic year (which started on March 22).
• March 12, 2023: Banned issuing transcripts and certificates for female university graduates.
• December 5, 2023: By the verbal order of Haibatullah, the Taliban’s religious police suspended delivery of nursing and midwifery education to female students in Kandahar. Source: contacts on the ground
• February 13, 2024: The Ministry of Public Health issued a directive to medical institutes of higher education, instructing those that provided education to girls during the winter to cancel the semester. They are to re-teach the same semester at the beginning of the new academic year, as teaching during the winter is only permitted to conduct short term capacity enhancement courses. Source: copy of the letter
• February 19, 2024: The Ministry of Public Health issued a letter to its provincial departments in 11 provinces, introducing/authorizing a four-member delegation from the Norwegian Church Aid (NCR) including a female doctor (accompanied by her mahram) to conduct entry exams, distribute materials, and register female students for studying nursing and midwifery. Source: copy of the letter
• July 23, 2024: The Taliban have posted notices in medical colleges, mandating that female students wear the “chadur namaaz” full body cover as a condition for entry. Note: The same type of hijab has been banned in Daikundi province. 

[back]

Justice

• November 23, 2021: Stormed the Afghan Independent Bar Association and ordered the suspension of their activities.
• May 16, 2022: Dissolved the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission. 
• August 23, 2022: Established female moral police department. 
• March 4, 2023: Invalidated thousands of divorce cases that were decided during the Afghan republic.
• March 25, 2023: The emir issued a verbal decree re-tasking the Attorney General's Office as the “General Directorate for Monitoring and Follow-up of Decrees and Directives.”
• March 30, 2023: Taliban’s emir issued an order to courts to re-examine and invalidate legal cases that had been settled by the republic courts that did not comply with Sharia.
• July 17, 2023: Taliban abolished the Attorney General’s Office (AGO). The new institution established to replace AGO is called, Directorate of Supervision and Prosecution of Decrees and Orders which no longer investigates or prosecutes cases directly. That function is taken over by the court and police. Source: Copy of the decree
• March 24, 2024: The Taliban leader stated that the public stoning of women shall be enforced, and the Taliban will not bend to the pressure of the West.

[back]

Employment in NGOs and U.N.

• February 2022: Ordered NGOs to replace board members and those in leadership positions with Afghans living inside Afghanistan. Source: copy of the order
• March 24, 2022: By the verbal order of Haibatullah, women were forbidden from working in offices. The order states women must not leave their home. Source: copy of the letter
• December 24, 2022: Banned female staff working for international NGOs. 
• April 4, 2023: Prevented female Afghan staff of the U.N. from reporting to work. Ordered NGOs to replace board members and those in leadership positions with Afghans living inside Afghanistan. Source: copy of the order
• June 8, 2023: Banned foreign NGOs from providing educational programs, including community-based education.
• July 6, 2023: Taliban’s Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice announced the ban on beauty salons [all run by women for women] because services provided by the salons were forbidden by Islam. Owners of beauty salons were given one month notice to wind down their businesses. Source: copy of the letter
• September 2023: In Uruzgan the governor re-iterated through an audio recorded message — that was widely disseminated — that women are not allowed to work even remotely with NGOs. Source: Contacts on the ground and copy of the audio message
• October 20, 2023: The Taliban’s Ministry of Economy has instructed NGOs in Kabul that women are not permitted to hold the position of director within an NGO. Source: contacts on the ground 
• November 11, 2023: The Taliban’s Ministry of Public Health in a letter informed the Ministry of Economy that programs related to public awareness, women’s health centers, social behavior, and mental health offered outside of government-run health centers by NGOs are prohibited. Source: copy of the letter
• December 19, 2023: The Taliban’s department of economy in Helmand issued a directive to NGOs, stipulating that new local employees must obtain an approval letter from the General Directorate of Intelligence before being offered employment. NGOs are asked to submit the names of existing employees for background checks and approvals. Source: copy of the letter
• December 30, 2023: The Taliban’s Ministry of Economy issued a letter calling on local and international organizations to refrain from implementing projects focused on peace, conflict resolution, advocacy and public awareness as they are not considered a need. Source: copy of the letter
• August 15, 2024: The Taliban’s department of economy instructed NGOs to remove the word “woman” from their organizational names. Source: contacts on the ground

[back]

Employment in Government Institutions and Businesses

• September 17, 2021: Replaced Ministry of Women’s Affairs with Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.  
• September 20, 2021: Ordered professional and working women to stay home until further notice.  
• March 13, 2022: Ordered enforcement of segregation of women’s and men’s offices. By verbal instruction of Haibatullah, women must not be employed in offices and must not leave home. Source: copy of the edict.
• July 18, 2022: Directed women employees of the Ministry of Finance to send a male relative to take their jobs if they want to be paid their salaries.  
• August 10, 2022: Removed female flight attendants from their jobs.  
• September 8, 2022: Made attending daily religious classes (offered by Ministry of Vice and Virtue agents) mandatory in all government offices. To keep their jobs, they must pass a test.  
• September 17, 2022: Prohibited the hiring of former government employees that had worked for Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs, the Supreme Court, and the Ministry of Education and ordered their termination. Source: copy of the order.
• December 27, 2022: Banned women-run bakeries in Kabul.
• February 1, 2023: Instructed female staff of hospitals in Kabul to wear black hijab (Arabic long gown) and mask at all times.
• February 22, 2023: Closed four medical centers run by female doctors in Ghazni because male patients were treated by female doctors.
• March 13, 2023: Small businesses council in Parwan issued a circular to its members that operate beauty salons and instructed them to require their clients to “take an ablution” before a service is initiated. Source: copy of the decree
• March 17, 2024: The Taliban banned women in six districts of Nangarhar from working at carpet weaving factories.
• March 23, 2024: The Taliban banned street saleswomen in a market in Jalalabad City of Nangarhar.
• April 7, 2024: The Economic Affairs Commission issued a directive, quoting the Emir, to remove and replace the elected leadership of the chambers of commerce, the association of money changers, Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce (ACCI) with ‘good and righteous individuals. Source: copy of the order
• June 3, 2024: A circular signed by Sheikh al Hadis Noorul Haq Anwar, addressed to the Environmental Protection Directorate, states that all female employees recruited during the republic should receive a uniform salary of 5,000 AFN [$71]. Source: copy of the letter
• June 10, 2024: A circular signed by Qari Abdul Baset Haqani, Director of Education for Kabul Province, states that based on orders from the responsible authorities, the salary of female employees should be 5,000 AFN. Consequently, any female employees who received a full salary earlier in the month of Jawza (May/June) because of Eid will have the extra amount deducted from their salary in the following month, Saratan (June/July). Source: copy of the letter
• July 2, 2024: A circular signed by Abdul Qadir Ahmad, Acting Deputy Minister of Finance, states that all female civil servants in both budgetary and off-budget positions will receive 5,000 AFN, as per the directive of Haibatullah. Source: copy of the circular
• July 8, 2024: The Ministry of Finance issued a circular, signed by Mullah M. Naser Akhund, to all ministries, offices, and directorates, stating that female employees who are currently working but do not report regularly like male employees, or do not perform duties according to their job description, will have their salaries reduced to 5,000 AFN from 25/11/1445 onwards. However, female employees who consistently report to work and fulfill their job duties as described are exempted from this rule. Offices that have paid salaries above or below 5,000 AFN must adjust these salaries in the upcoming months. Source: copy of the circular

[back]

Women in Media

• November 22, 2021: Banned women from television dramas.  
• March 18, 2022: Banned foreign TV series. 
• May 19, 2022: Ordered female TV presenters on air to cover their faces.  
• September 26, 2022: Ordered media outlets to ensure female TV guests cover face.  
• October 28, 2022: Removed women’s seat from Commission of Media Violations. 
• May 11, 2023: Taliban officials verbally directed media outlets not to produce content about women’s hygiene issues.
• June 17, 2023: Banned women from participating in radio and TV shows where the presenters are men.
• September 2023: In Helmand, the Department of Information and Culture through mullahs in mosques have informed media outlets not to invite women to their programs without first obtaining permission from the department. The department has also warned women against using Facebook, TikTok, Twitter and other media tools. The message was delivered through mosques on behalf of the governor and the department. Source: contacts on the ground
• October 14, 2023:  The Taliban religious police instructed media outlets in Kunduz province to submit drafts of their content for review and approval prior to publication. 
• February 25, 2024: The Taliban police chief in Khost, Abdul Rashid Omari, banned women from contacting local radio and television channel citing the potential for spreading immorality. Source: copy of the letter; also reported by media
• February 28, 2024: The Taliban’s spokesperson for the Ministry of the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, Abdul Ghaffar Farooq, announced that women appearing on television must wear black hijab and with their faces covered only leaving their eyes visible. 
• April 2024: The Taliban in Helmand verbally instructed media outlets to refrain from airing women’s voices. Source: field contacts
• April 2024: Media outlets were verbally instructed to ban women from co-hosting shows with male journalists and refrain from reporting on women’s rights and violence against women. Source: media contacts 
• August 24: Taliban’s Department of Information and Culture issued a warning to radio stations in Khost and Paktia, prohibiting the broadcast of educational programs for students beyond the 6th grade. Source: contacts on the ground from Paktia 

[back]

Women Outside the Home

• August 25, 2021: Ordered women to stay indoors at home because soldiers are not trained to respect women. 
• September 8, 2021: Banned protests and slogans that don’t have prior approval from Taliban.  
• December 26, 2021: Banned women from travelling on long-distance (72 km/45 miles) road trips without a mahram. 
• December 29, 2021: Ordered the closing of public baths for women in Balkh.  
• January 7, 2022: Ordered coffee shop owners in Herat not to serve women if they are not accompanied by a mahram.  
• March 2, 2022: Banned women from entering health centers without a mahram.  
• May 5, 2022: Stopped issuing drivers’ licenses to women.  
• May 7, 2022: Issued order that women are not allowed to use public transport if they are without a mahram.  
• May 7, 2022: Issued recommendation and implementation plan regarding proper hijab practices, stating the best hijab is for women to wear a burqa or stay home. 
• November 6, 2022: Ordered closing of public baths for women in Badghis. 
• February 1, 2023: Verbally instructed female government medical staff to be accompanied by a mahram while going to their offices in Kandahar.
• March 15, 2023: Ordered restaurants in Takhar not to serve women without a mahram.
• April 5, 2023: The Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice issued an edict banning women from going to restaurants in Herat. Previously, they had issued an edict on May 12, 2022, instructing restaurant owners to segregate male and female diners. Source: copy of the edict
• May 4, 2023: In a recorded voice message, the head of the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Kandahar, Mawlawi Abdulhai Omar, verbally ordered all the provincial departments to ban girls and women from going to health centers and cemeteries. In his message, Mawlawi Omar claims that “women/girls wear makeup when they go to these places and pretend they are ill … Anyone whose daughter or sister is like this, if she has a brother, arrest her brother. If she has a father, punish her father and punish him for not correcting her daughter.” Source: audio clip.
• May 5, 2023: Banned young and unmarried women from going to health centers and shrines in Kandahar province.
• January 2024: In Farah, the governor has issued a verbal order making wearing of black color hijab, face mask and gloves mandatory. Source: contacts on the ground
• January 2024: In Logar, the religious police made announcements through loudspeakers in mosques and in public stating that women and girls should refrain from wearing white pants, and shoes when going out and that those ignoring the order have no right to complain about the consequences. Source: contacts on the ground
• January 2024: In Paktia, the vice and virtue authorities announced through mosques that women are prohibited from wearing black Arabic hijabs, as they reveal the eyes. Instead, women are mandated to exclusively wear burqa. Source: contacts on the ground
• February 14, 2024: Mullah Abdul Haq Waseeq, head of the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence, has directed its units to stop organizations from taking inappropriate photos (mixed male/female) during aid distribution, and during meetings, particularly of women. Violators are instructed to be reported to the directorate for appropriate action. Source: copy of the letter
• May 26, 2024: The Taliban required couples in Herat to present their “marriage certificate” to allow them to eat together in restaurants.
• July 3, 2024: The religious police in Daikundi issued an announcement mandating that women must comply with the hijab requirement within five days. The specified hijab style must be Arabic. After the deadline, violators will face punishment and imprisonment, with responsibility falling on both the individual and her family. Source: copy of the announcement and sources on the ground
• July 5, 2024: The religious police in Daikundi issued an announcement mandating that women must comply with the hijab requirement within five days. The specified hijab style must be Arabic. After the deadline, violators will face punishment and imprisonment, with responsibility falling on both the individual and her family. Source: copy of the announcement 
• July 17, 2024: The Vice and Virtue authorities in Faryab have re-issued a ban prohibiting women from visiting three parks (Khawja Ghaar, Dara Shaakh, and Dara Rang) in Gurziwaan District. The ban has been confirmed through an official letter and corroborated by contacts on the ground. 
• July 31, 2024: The Taliban issued a new edict under their ‘Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Law’, which was published in the Ministry of Justice gazette, listing previously imposed restrictions as well as additional ones, including women’s voice in public and prohibiting friendship with non-Muslims. Source: copy of the edict 
• September 14: The Taliban’s Vice and Virtue enforcers have instructed Imams in select mosques across Kandahar to urge their communities to prohibit women from using smartphones. Source: Contacts on the ground

[back]

Visiting Parks/Sightseeing

• April 6, 2022: Dictated different days for men and women to visit parks.  
• August 25, 2022: Issued an order banning women from going to parks where park authorities cannot ensure segregation between men and women. 
• November 10, 2022: Banned women and girls from parks and gyms. 
• January 11, 2023: Taliban’s Herat Department of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice issued a letter banning women from visiting historic places. Source: copy of the letter
• August 26, 2023: Taliban Minister of Vice and Virtue during his visit to Bamiyan announced that women are henceforth not allowed to enter Band-e Amir national park.
• September 19: The Vice and Virtue authorities in Balkh reissued an order prohibiting women from entering parks. Source: copy of the order

[back]

Sports

• September 8, 2021: Banned women from playing sports.
• November 10, 2022: Banned women and girls from parks and gyms. 
• February 1, 2023: Taliban closed a Karat-e club in Farah province. It operated in spite of the earlier ban on female sports clubs.

[back]

Traveling Outside the Country

• March 27, 2022: Banned women from traveling abroad without a mahram and without a legitimate reason.  
• January 16, 2023: Instructed travel agencies not to sell tickets to women without a mahram.

[back]

Corporal Punishments

• November 14, 2022: Reinstated Hudud and Qisas punishments in cases such as robbery, kidnapping and sedition.

[back]