The Taliban has announced a ban on women’s beauty salons, according to a government spokesperson on Tuesday. This latest restriction adds to the growing list of curbs on the rights and freedoms of Afghan women and girls, including prohibitions on education, public spaces, and most forms of employment.
Mohammad Sidik Akif Mahajar, a spokesman for the Taliban-run Virtue and Vice Ministry, confirmed the ban’s existence but did not provide specific details. The ban, outlined in a letter circulating on social media and issued by the ministry on June 24, is reportedly based on a verbal order from the supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. It applies to the capital city of Kabul and all provinces, and salons across the country are given one month’s notice to cease operations. They are required to submit a closure report after the designated period. The reasons for this ban were not disclosed in the letter.
This announcement comes shortly after Akhundzada claimed that his government has taken steps to improve the lives of women in Afghanistan. However, despite initial promises of a more moderate rule compared to their previous regime in the 1990s, the Taliban has imposed severe measures since seizing power in August 2021 as U.S. and NATO forces withdrew.
The Taliban’s restrictions have included preventing women from accessing public spaces such as parks and gyms, as well as cracking down on media freedom. These measures have generated strong international condemnation, further isolating the country at a time when its economy is in shambles and exacerbating a humanitarian crisis.
