The Taliban has announced plans to close all national and foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Afghanistan that employ women, in a move seen as an attempt to exert control over humanitarian work and further restrict the rights of Afghan females. The decision comes two years after the group ordered NGOs to suspend female employment, citing concerns about modesty.
The Economy Ministry warned NGOs that failure to comply with the latest order would result in license cancellation, effectively shutting down their operations in Afghanistan. The Taliban’s latest move is part of a broader effort to restrict women’s rights, including banning them from many jobs and public spaces, as well as limiting education beyond sixth grade.
The decision has been met with criticism from international organizations, including the United Nations, which has reported an increase in humanitarian workers being prevented from doing their work due to Taliban restrictions. The UN has stressed that relief efforts remain essential, but the Taliban claims it is not interfering with aid agencies’ activities.
In another development, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has issued a decree requiring buildings to have windows that do not look into areas where women might sit or stand. The order applies to both new and existing buildings and aims to prevent “harm” by installing walls, fences, or screens to obscure views of residential properties.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-ngo-women-closure-1fde989369785f8df0e83c81d48626f1