The Taliban’s supreme leader issued an order prohibiting the construction of windows in residential buildings that have access to areas used by Afghan women. Existing windows must be blocked.
According to a statement released on Saturday by the Taliban government spokesman, the new buildings should not have windows through which it is possible to see “the courtyard, the kitchen, the neighbor’s well and other places commonly used by women”.
“Seeing women working in the kitchens, in the courtyards or collecting water from wells can lead to obscene acts“, according to the decree published by the government spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahidon the social network X.
Municipal authorities and other relevant departments will have to monitor construction sites to ensure that it is not possible to see the neighbors’ houses.
If there are windows, owners will be encouraged to build a wall or obstruct the view “to avoid inconvenience to neighbors”states the decree.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, women have been progressively excluded from public spaceswhich led the United Nations to denounce the “gender apartheid” established by the administration, recalls .
Despite having promised to study in 2021, the Taliban authorities banned post-primary education for girls and women, restricted employment and blocked access to parks and other public places.
Days after stating that his government was taking steps to improve the lives of Afghan women, Afghanistan’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, .
A recent law even prohibits women from singing or reciting poetry in public, in accordance with the Taliban government’s ultra-strict application of Islamic law. It also encourages them to “veiling” your voice and body outside the home. Some local radio and television stations also stopped emitting female voices.
The Taliban government claims that Islamic law “guarantees” the rights of Afghan men and women.
