Kabul, 5 July, 2023 (GNP): In a devastating blow to women’s rights and economic stability, the Taliban has issued an order to close all beauty salons in Afghanistan within one month. The order, confirmed by Mohammad Sidik Akif Mahajar of the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, comes as the Taliban extends its repressive rule over women, who are already facing severe restrictions on work and education.
Since their return to power in August 2021, the Taliban has systematically rolled back decades of progress on human rights, particularly women’s rights. According to a recent report by United Nations experts, the Taliban has committed egregious violations by limiting women’s access to education, employment, and their freedom of movement within society.
Beauty salons run by women have been shut down across Afghanistan in the latest crackdown on women's rights, women’s entrepreneurship & job opportunities.
Women must be part of the economy for any country to chart a sustainable way out of crisis & improve development outcomes.
— UN Women Afghanistan (@unwomenafghan) July 4, 2023
The forced closure of beauty salons further erodes the already limited freedoms of women and imposes significant economic hardships on families who rely on these businesses for their livelihoods. A salon owner in Kabul, who requested anonymity for safety reasons, expressed her shock and anguish upon hearing the news.
“I don’t know how to express my feelings. My husband is unemployed, and this beauty salon is the sole means to support my family. I have four children who need food, clothing, and school expenses,” she said. “I fail to understand why beauty salons should be banned. Women are already required to wear the hijab in public, and this move not only deprives many families of their income but further strips women of their rights and freedom.”
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The UN report released last month, compiled by Richard Bennett, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, and Dorothy Estrada-Tanck, leader of the working group on discrimination against women and girls, highlighted the alarming conditions faced by Afghan women.
They are prohibited from working in most sectors outside the home, barred from public spaces such as baths, parks, and gyms, and must wear concealing garments. Additionally, they are unable to leave home without a male guardian and face severe mental health issues, including depression and suicide.
The restrictions imposed by the Taliban have resulted in increased domestic violence and a significant rise in forced marriages of girls. Markus Potzel, the Deputy Special Representative for the UN Assistance Mission, emphasized the urgent need for the Taliban to grant girls and women greater freedoms if Afghanistan wishes to attract international aid and support.
Afghanistan’s “de facto authorities” must allow girls to pursue education, enable women to work for NGOs and participate in social life to rebuild international relationships and receive essential assistance, Potzel stated.