Taliban prohibits windows overlooking residential spaces occupied by women News
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Taliban prohibits windows overlooking residential spaces occupied by women

Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid announced on Saturday a controversial directive prohibiting the construction of windows in homes that overlook neighboring properties occupied by women.

The decree imposes stringent restrictions on property owners, mandating that any newly constructed homes refrain from installing windows facing the courtyards or living spaces of adjacent residences where women reside. Furthermore, homeowners with existing structures that violate this rule are now required to block the view by erecting walls or applying appropriate coverings to hide the spaces from neighbors.

The Taliban imposed the order to limit the visibility of women in residential areas, citing the need to maintain privacy and protect women. The decree states: “Seeing women working in kitchens, in courtyards or collecting water from wells can lead to obscene acts.”

The announcement comes amidst further decrees by the Taliban that non-governmental organizations, aid organizations, and charities will be monitored for employing women or so-called “illegal acts.” Critics argue that Saturday’s measure is part of a broader strategy by the Taliban to exert control over public and private life, further diminishing women’s visibility and participation in society.

Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, Afghan women have increasingly been erased from public spaces. The Taliban has imposed numerous restrictions on women’s rights, including bans on post-primary education for girls, job opportunities, and access to parks and other public venues. A recent decree further forbade women from singing or reciting poetry in public and encouraged them to “veil” their voices and bodies outside their homes. Additionally, some local radio and television stations have ceased broadcasting female voices altogether.

Such actions prompted the United Nations to denounce the “gender apartheid” established by the Taliban administration. As the Taliban continues to enforce these policies, fears grow that the rule of law in Afghanistan is eroding as critics denounce how the Taliban has increasingly curtailed fundamental rights and freedoms. The international community continues calling for accountability and the protection of human rights for all Afghans, especially women, who have been disproportionately affected by the Taliban’s measures.

 

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