The Taliban has issued a decree banning the construction of windows in buildings overlooking areas where women are present, citing concerns over “obscene acts” that might arise from men observing women in domestic spaces. The latest edict represents a continuation of the group’s systematic erosion of women’s rights since reclaiming power in Afghanistan in 2021.
The decree, announced by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, mandates that new buildings must avoid windows that allow visibility into courtyards, kitchens, or wells—spaces traditionally used by Afghan women. Existing windows offering such views must be blocked to prevent “nuisances caused to neighbours,” according to the directive. Local municipal authorities are tasked with enforcing the order by monitoring construction sites and ensuring compliance.
“Seeing women working in kitchens, in courtyards or collecting water from wells can lead to obscene acts,” Mujahid said in a post on X.
Latest in a series of bans
The measure adds to an expanding list of restrictions aimed at erasing women from public and domestic life under the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law. Women in Afghanistan are already barred from education beyond primary school, public employment, and access to public spaces such as parks. These policies, labelled “gender apartheid” by the United Nations, have drawn widespread international condemnation.
Under the Taliban’s governance, women’s voices and appearances have also been heavily censored. A decree earlier this year prohibited women from reciting the Quran aloud in the presence of other women, asserting that a woman’s voice is “awrah,” or an intimate part that must be concealed. Beauty salons, women-run bakeries, and co-educational spaces have been shut down, while travel and health access for women have been severely restricted. Female students, who once thrived in nursing and midwifery programmes, are now barred from attending classes, further crippling their professional opportunities.
The Taliban’s relentless imposition of morality laws mirrors their governance during the 1990s, a period marked by severe repression of women’s rights. Recent measures, such as requiring male guardians for women’s travel and mandating full-body coverings in public, have underscored the regime’s commitment to these draconian policies.
The global response has been overwhelmingly critical, with human rights organisations and international bodies accusing the Taliban of reducing women to “faceless, voiceless shadows.” UN representatives have warned that these measures undermine not only gender equality but also essential sectors like healthcare, where women previously played a crucial role.
