The Taliban’s supreme leader has issued a controversial decree banning the construction of windows in residential buildings that overlook areas typically used by Afghan women, such as courtyards, kitchens, and wells.
The order, issued late Saturday by government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, mandates that new buildings should not have windows that provide a view into spaces where women commonly work or perform daily tasks.
According to the decree, seeing women in these private spaces could “lead to obscene acts.” It further instructs municipal authorities and other relevant departments to monitor construction sites to ensure that windows are not positioned in a way that allows visibility into neighbors’ homes.
For existing buildings with such windows, owners are urged to block the view by constructing walls or taking similar measures to prevent “nuisances” to neighbors.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, women have faced increasing restrictions on their presence in public life. The UN has condemned what it calls a system of “gender apartheid” under Taliban rule, citing measures such as the ban on post-primary education for girls, restrictions on women’s employment, and exclusion from parks and other public spaces.
In addition, the Taliban has imposed a law prohibiting women from singing or reciting poetry in public, while promoting extreme dress codes and requiring women to veil their voices and bodies when outside the home. Some radio and television stations have even ceased broadcasting female voices.
The Taliban government maintains that its interpretation of Islamic law guarantees the rights of both Afghan men and women, although its policies continue to draw widespread international criticism for their severe impact on women’s freedoms and rights.
AFP
