Taliban asks women city government employees not to return to work
Women in health and education sectors shall continue to work
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Taliban in Afghanistan has asked female employees of the city government not to return to work, it was reported.
The female employees asked to stay home didn’t include those from the department of education and health, Neamatullah Barakzai, the Kabul head of public awareness told the Washington Post.
However, the government will continue to pay their salaries till they come up with a work policy for women in the country, Mr Barakzai said.
This new diktat from the Taliban confirms fears that women and their rights under the Taliban regime will be diminished. When the Taliban was in power in Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, they implemented such drastic measures.
Since the Taliban took over Kabul in August, they tried to initially portray a tolerant image and said that women will be given equal rights “under the Sharia law.”
The Taliban acting deputy prime minister Abdul Salam Hanafi, during his visit to Russia on Wednesday, said: “Women will also continue to work at police stations and in passport offices.”
The spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid also had said in August that “we assure the international community that there will be no discrimination against women, but, of course, within the frameworks we have.”
Many women have been protesting across the country to demand equal rights under the new Taliban regime. When the Taliban formed the interim government in early September, no female members were included in the cabinet.
Since the Taliban came to power, they have also imposed a dress code on women and restricted their movement in public places. To counter this diktat, several Afghan women shared their photos on social media wearing traditional Afghan dresses.
The Taliban have also asked universities to separate men and women in classes. Abdul Baqi Haqqani, the acting minister of higher education told the media that “coeducation is in opposition to Sharia law.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments