The Taliban’s supreme leader has banned building windows that overlook women’s areas, demanding existing ones be covered.
A Taliban government spokesperson announced late Saturday that new buildings should avoid windows overlooking “women’s usual spaces,” like courtyards and kitchens.
The government’s decree, posted by spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid on social media platform X, states that seeing women in these areas may provoke indecent behaviour.
Municipal bodies and related departments must inspect construction sites to ensure compliance. If existing windows violate this, homeowners should block the view to prevent neighbour disturbances.
Since regaining power in August 2021, the Taliban have systematically removed women from public life, sparking global condemnation. The United Nations has labelled it “gender apartheid.”
Taliban rules now forbid girls and women from post-primary education and most jobs and bar them from parks and public places.
A new law also stops women from publicly singing or reciting poetry. It requires them to “veil” their voices and bodies outside.
Some local broadcasters have stopped airing female voices. The Taliban claims their rules protect the rights of all Afghans under Islamic law.
