By: Zubaida
Kabul, Afghanistan—The Taliban government has issued a decree banning the installation of windows in new buildings that would allow views into areas of Afghan homes typically used by women, such as courtyards, kitchens, and wells. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid announced this measure late Saturday in a statement on the social media platform X. The group seeks to limit visibility into private spaces to uphold what it refers to as modesty and decency.
The decree warns that “seeing women working in kitchens, in courtyards, or collecting water from wells can lead to obscene acts.” It directs municipal authorities and other relevant departments to monitor construction sites and enforce compliance with the new regulation.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, the group has enacted increasingly restrictive policies targeting women’s visibility and participation in public life. These measures have drawn sharp criticism from the international community, with the United Nations condemning the situation as “gender apartheid.”
This latest restriction has intensified concerns about the erosion of women’s freedoms and rights in Afghanistan, adding to a growing list of policies that severely limit their role in society.
