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Afghanistan

Taliban 'SHOOT and beat protesters' who were supporting women and girls arrested for violating dress code

2026-06-09

[DM] The Taliban's brutal crackdown on an anti-morality police protest has left one person dead and others wounded.

Officials opened fire on demonstrators on Tuesday, after dozens took to the streets to denounce the detention of women and girls arrested for violating the country's dress code.

Footage obtained by Amu TV showed residents running in fear down a street in the Jibrail township, northwest of Herat City, amid the sound of multiple gunshots.

Protesters can be heard screaming as others were beaten to the ground by officials wielding long sticks.

Armed men can be seen breaking up the demonstration, including fully veiled women among the protesters.

Sayed Masoud Hosseini, spokesperson for Herat police, told the state-run Bakhtar News Agency that the gathering had 'created tensions' and disturbed public order under the pretext of opposing the Islamic hijab, which he described as a religious obligation.

The demonstration followed days of growing outrage over the detention of women and girls in Herat, for allegedly failing to comply with the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic dress requirements.

Dozens of women, including at least 21 whose detentions were independently confirmed, had been taken into custody by officials from the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, Amu TV claimed.

Some residents said officials targeted women who were already observing the required dress code, which includes fully covering the face and body.

The United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, strongly condemned the wave of arrests, calling them 'illegal and unacceptable'.

'I am deeply alarmed that for a third consecutive day, scores of women in Herat continue to be arbitrarily arrested and detained for violating the Taliban's dress code,' he wrote on X.

'The arrests must stop, and the women must be released immediately.'

The arrests took place in several parts of Herat, including the Southern Road area, Almas Market and the Qasr locality, according to local reports.

Among those detained was allegedly a nurse employed at Herat Regional Hospital.

Flyers circulated across the area on Monday, calling on residents to gather at 8am local time Tuesday in District 13 of the Jibrail township, to demonstrate against the arrests.

Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban has steadily expanded restrictions on women and girls - including bans on secondary and university education, limits on employment and increasingly strict regulations governing their appearance and movement in public.

Herat, long regarded as one of Afghanistan’s most socially and culturally vibrant cities, has undergone significant changes.

Tuesday's demonstration appeared to be one of the largest public protests in recent months directly challenging the Taliban’s gender apartheid.

The human rights arm of the UN delivered a damning assessment of conditions in Afghanistan in a report released in March, warning that life for ordinary Afghans, especially women and girls, has severely worsened under the Taliban.

Presenting the report, UN Human Rights chief Volker Türk said: 'The cascade of edicts and laws announced by the authorities since coming to power in 2021 is having a crushing impact on the Afghan people, particularly women and girls.'

Women remain excluded from all education above primary school age, following a ban from higher education since December 2022.

In November 2025, medical graduation examinations were held without the participation of women for the second consecutive year, after having been banned from medical institutes since December 2024.

Women deemed not to be complying with the chador requirement - the traditional Islamic full-body cloak - have been removed from public transport and denied access to public markets and services.

Meanwhile, a new law demands that girls wait until puberty before seeking to get out of a marriage, and also requires mediation for women seeking to escape an abusive husband.

'The authorities have, in effect, criminalised the presence of women and girls in public life,' Türk said. 'Discrimination affects their healthcare, their access to civic space, and their freedom of movement and expression.'

'Afghanistan is a graveyard for human rights,' he concluded.

Link

Afghanistan

UN Mission Expresses Concern Over Reported Detention of Women in Herat

2026-06-08

[KhaamaPress] UNAMA says reported detention of women in Herat
...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns...
raises serious concerns over human rights
...which are usually open to widely divergent definitions...
and freedoms.

The United Nations
...a formerly good idea gone bad...
Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has expressed concern over the reported detention of women by Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
authorities in the western city of Herat, saying the incident raises serious human rights concerns.

Local sources said at least 20 women were detained in Herat over the past two days, while public transport drivers, including taxi and rickshaw operators, were reportedly instructed not to transport women without a male guardian or without adhering to the dress requirements imposed by local authorities.

Sources further reported that Taliban officials in Herat’s Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice had previously warned that women not complying with prescribed dress codes could be removed from public spaces and detained.

The Taliban authorities have not issued any official comment on the reported detentions. The situation comes amid ongoing concerns from international organizations about restrictions on women’s rights and freedom of movement in Afghanistan since the group returned to power in 2021.

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Afghanistan

Taliban morality enforcers granted sweeping powers under new law: Sources

2025-06-05

[AmuTV] The Taliban
Taliban

...mindless ferocity in a turban...
’s religious enforcers, known as mohtasibs, have seen an unprecedented expansion of authority over the past 10 months, according to multiple local sources, following the formal enactment of the Taliban’s "Law on Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice," also called morality law.

Implemented last year, the law codifies a wide range of restrictions, particularly affecting women and media. It empowers the Taliban’s morality enforcers to detain individuals for up to three days and has declared the voices of women to be "awrah," or forbidden to be publicly heard. The law also prohibits the broadcasting of images of living beings — a measure that has led to the suspension or alteration of programming at dozens of visual media outlets across more than 15 provinces.

Despite widespread criticism from inside and outside the country, Taliban authorities have not relented. On the social platform X, Saif Khyber, spokesperson for the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, recently announced the launch of an audio campaign to explain the articles of the law to the public.

"Let us contribute to the dissemination of the articles of this law in audio format," he wrote, noting that the full text will be shared one article at a time through audio recordings.

The law, spanning an introduction, four chapters, and 35 articles, has effectively institutionalized a host of restrictions that critics say amount to a harsh imposition of the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic law. Religious scholars and civil society groups argue that the edicts reflect an extreme and punitive reading of Sharia and are being enforced in ways that severely curtail civil liberties.

The law has already resulted in visible changes to public life. Taliban officials are increasingly divided over the use of their own images in public, with some now opting to hold audio-only press briefings. The ban on broadcasting living images has led several television channels either to switch to radio formats or cease operations altogether.

In Herat
...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns...
Province, eight local sources confirmed to Amu that Taliban enforcement of the law has grown more aggressive in recent months. Residents there report increased surveillance, restrictions on women’s movement and expression, and arrests related to perceived violations of the moral code.

Despite appeals from international human rights
...which are often intentionally defined so widely as to be meaningless...
groups and U.N. bodies calling for a rollback of these restrictions, Taliban continue to implement the law with growing rigor. Their ministry claims the measures are necessary to preserve moral order and religious values — a claim sharply contested by critics who warn that the law is instead a tool of repression.

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Afghanistan

Islamic Emirate Leader Calls for Full Implementation of Sharia in Paktia

2025-04-12

Frog throughly boiled. It is ithe Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, after all.

[ToloNews] The leader of the Islamic Emirate met with the governor of Paktia and other provincial officials in Kandahar.

During the meeting, Sheikh Hibatullah Akhundzada emphasized that the time has come to implement Sharia in the country’s political, economic, and military sectors. He called on local officials to make serious efforts to enforce Islamic rulings, especially the law of "Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice."

The deputy spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, Hamdullah Fitrat said: "The esteemed Amir al-Mu'minin instructed officials to strengthen the Islamic system, implement Sharia, enforce the law of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, and serve the people."

The leader of the Islamic Emirate also stressed the importance of unity among the people and the prevention of divisions.

Fitrat further stated: "The Amir al-Mu'minin urged the people to cooperate with ministries, find solutions to public problems, and eliminate ethnic divisions."

Political analyst Abdul Sadiq Hamidzoy said: "If the government wants the support of the people, the foremost need is for social justice, so that no one feels disappointed or alienated."

This comes as the leader of the Islamic Emirate had previously, during Eid al-Fitr prayers in Kandahar, emphasized the importance of setting aside differences and said that an Islamic system can only succeed when there is unity and harmony among all citizens.

Link

Afghanistan

Afghan Digest: Week of October 21-27

2024-11-10

It seem that while we weren’t working, the Afghan Digest went from daily to irregularly weekly reports. Here are a few highlights — go to the link to read the rest.
The Afghan Digest archive can be explored here, for those who don’t want to wait for me to get around to working up another post in a few weeks or months — or you can work up a post yourself, dear Reader, and then we all can enjoy the result. ;-)

SECURITY AND CONFLICT
House to House Searches Kabul – Beginning on Monday, various sources confirmed that the Taliban conducted house-to-house searches in Kabul's PD 4, PD 11, and PD 17. The Taliban stated that they were looking for ISKP members, criminals, and narcotics. Locals reported that the Taliban prevented any filming during the searches. The areas selected suggest the searches may be targeting individuals suspected of sympathizing with resistance fighters.

House to House Searches in Nimroz – This week, the Taliban began conducting house-to-house searches in several provinces, including Nimroz, which has sparked strong reactions from residents. In Khang district, protests erupted after Taliban forces entered a home occupied solely by women and children, leading to the detention of at least 50 protesters, some of whom were reportedly beaten. The Taliban claimed these searches aimed to target drug dealers.

Taliban Fire on Protestors in Ghor – On Saturday, in Feroz Koh, Ghor province, at least six people were injured when Taliban forces opened fire on protesters who were opposing body searches conducted on local women. Demonstrators had gathered to demand an end to these invasive searches, highlighting mounting public anger over the Taliban’s treatment of women. Witnesses described a tense atmosphere as the Taliban used firearms to disperse the crowd, underscoring the growing unrest with their restrictive policies and prompting similar protests across Afghanistan.

IS Attack in Ghor – On October 20, Taliban forces clashed with ISIS fighters in the Nurkoh area of Ghor province. The fighting, which lasted several hours, involved both light and heavy weaponry. The Taliban later claimed they attacked an ISIS hideout, killing two members, although they did not disclose any of their own casualties. Photos circulated online of Engineer Saifullah, a Taliban fighter killed in the clash. Taliban officials allege that ISIS in Ghor operates from Balochistan, Pakistan, where it recruits and trains fighters. ISIS activity has increased in central and western Afghanistan, complicating Taliban efforts to maintain security and targeting civilians in areas beyond Taliban control.

Explosion in Pamir Cinema Market – On Wednesday, an explosion occurred around 2:00 p.m. local time in the Pamir Cinema area of Kabul, targeting the crowded Lailami Market, known for selling second-hand clothes. The blast killed one child and injured 11 people, including a three-year-old girl, a four-year-old boy, a sixteen-year-old boy, two women, and six men, one of whom is in critical condition. The attack struck one of Kabul's most densely populated and impoverished neighborhoods. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident.

HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES
Further Bans on Women's Voices – Taliban minister Khalid Hanafi recently declared it forbidden for adult women in Afghanistan to let their voices be heard by other adult women, specifically prohibiting them from reciting the Quran or performing the Takbir aloud. This new directive, which is part of broader restrictions on women’s rights, mandates full-body covering, including the face. Hanafi’s comments have sparked significant backlash from Afghan women, who are advocating for their rights against what many see as increasingly oppressive Taliban policies. It remains unclear how this extreme directive will be enforced or if it is an official policy.

Political Analyst Detained – On October 19, Jawed Momand, a university professor and political analyst, was detained by Taliban intelligence agents in Kabul's Karte Naw district. The Taliban have not provided any statement regarding his detention.

Women Prevented from Riding Buses Without Masks – The Taliban’s vice and virtue police in Kabul have barred women and girls from boarding city buses if they are not wearing masks, according to multiple local sources.

Retirees Protest unpaid Pensions – On Saturday, retirees in Kabul protested three years of unpaid pensions, blocking the street leading to the Ministry of Finance. The Taliban dissolved the pension system and cut retiree salaries, exacerbating economic hardships for many. During the protest, one retiree was arrested, underscoring the widespread discontent amid ongoing financial struggles.

Floggings – On Monday, a man and a woman were flogged in Logar province, with similar punishments meted out in Bamiyan the same day. On Wednesday, 17 people were flogged in Khost, followed by the flogging of one man in Kabul on Thursday and one individual in Faryab on Sunday.

INTERNAL POLITICS
Acting Minister Of Education Statement on Jihadi Madrassas – The Taliban's acting minister for higher education, Neda Mohammad Nadim, emphasized the role of jihadi madrasas in maintaining the jihadist mindset in Afghanistan. In the past 40 days, 16 new madrasas have been established across 10 provinces at a cost of 54 million Afghanis. Afghanistan now has 21,000 madrasas, surpassing the 18,000 schools in the country. Critics, including Afghan citizens and international observers, express concerns that this increase could promote extremism and radicalization, further destabilizing the nation.

Dissent on Banning Living Images – TTaliban officials in Kabul, including Acting Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, Acting Defense Minister Yaqoob Mujahid, and three Acting Deputy Prime Ministers, oppose Mullah Hibatullah’s ban on broadcasting images of living beings. They argue that the law undermines the Taliban's interests, particularly in media and diplomacy. The Haqqani network, which manages propaganda centers, also criticizes the restrictions. Despite Mullah Hibatullah’s orders, enforcement has been inconsistent, with some officials permitting audio recordings and defying full implementation.

Saleh Statement on Doha Process – On Friday, former Vice President Amrullah Saleh claimed that the Doha process, backed by NATO, effectively constituted a coup against Afghanistan’s Republic. He argued that it was a carefully orchestrated effort to sideline Ashraf Ghani and destabilize the government. Saleh asserted that many Afghan political leaders supported anti-republicanism, viewing it as a means of securing personal gain, under the assumption that the U.S. would integrate the Taliban into the government. Instead, he contended, this strategy resulted in national disgrace and authoritarian rule.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
NYT Publishes Interview with Haqqani – On Thursday, the New York Times published an interview with Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban's acting interior minister and a wanted terrorist. In the interview, Haqqani portrays himself as a dissident within the Taliban and attempts to present himself as a diplomat. He has a $10 million bounty on his head from the U.S. for orchestrating terrorist attacks against international forces, Afghan officials, and civilians.

CSTO Approves Plan to Strengthen Afghan-Tajik Border – On Saturday, Imangali Tasmagambetov, secretary general of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), announced plans to enhance Tajikistan's border security with Afghanistan at an upcoming CSTO meeting in Astana. The draft plan has been reviewed and agreed upon by CSTO member states. The organization has expressed ongoing concerns about the potential spread of extremism from Afghanistan to Central Asia over the past three years. Representatives from over 40 countries recently warned that rising extremism and radical teachings could lead to catastrophic consequences.

OCHA report on Projects in Afghanistan – The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that in September 2024, 83 humanitarian projects were temporarily suspended due to 173 incidents, 98% of which were attributed to Taliban interference. This marks a 66% increase from last year. The incidents involved disruptions to operations, violence against staff, and movement restrictions. The Taliban also imposed illegal taxes, seized aid, delayed document processing, and enforced strict regulations on female staff, threatening the safety of humanitarian workers.

Afghan Consulate in Germany to Close – On Thursday, Germany requested that Afghanistan’s ambassador in Berlin and its consul in Bonn step down, refusing to accept Taliban-appointed representatives. However, technical staff will continue to provide consular services at the embassy and consulate, according to a diplomatic source. The German government maintains its position against recognizing Taliban officials.

BRICS Statement on Afghanistan – At the Kazan summit on Thursday, BRICS leaders, including those from China and Russia, urged the Taliban to lift the ban on girls' and women's education. They emphasized the need to respect the fundamental rights of Afghan citizens, including women and ethnic groups, and called for immediate humanitarian aid. The leaders also stressed the importance of taking action against terrorism in Afghanistan and highlighted the role of regional platforms in addressing the country’s challenges. BRICS reaffirmed its support for a peaceful, independent Afghanistan.

Afghan Representative Speaks at UN – On Wednesday, Nasir Ahmad Faiq, Afghanistan's acting representative to the UN, urged the international community to take decisive action regarding Afghanistan’s crisis. Speaking to the UN General Assembly’s Third Committee, he emphasized the Taliban’s oppressive policies, particularly gender apartheid, and called for its criminalization under international law. Faiq highlighted the Taliban’s focus on extremism in education and the erosion of fundamental rights, especially for women and girls.

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS
Ban on Living Images and TV Station Shutdowns – Television stations in Badghis province have ceased operations following a Taliban directive banning live images, according to the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC). Both state-run and private TV stations are now limited to written and audio content. The ban, enforced under the "Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" law, extends to other provinces, posing a significant threat to press freedom. On Thursday, sources reported that the Taliban have expanded the ban on broadcasting images of living beings to at least 10 provinces, including Kandahar, Helmand, Uruzgan, Kunar, Khost, Takhar, Badghis, Panjshir, and Laghman.

400 Books Banned in Kabul – The Taliban have banned 400 books in libraries across Kabul, mandating their removal if they conflict with Taliban principles, according to local librarians. The ban targets works related to Shia Islam, democracy, political freedoms, civil rights, art, and prominent figures such as Ahmad Shah Massoud. Librarians report that the Taliban have already begun collecting these titles and promoting works deemed acceptable by the regime. Booksellers fear financial losses and potential crackdowns as enforcement is expected to intensify starting in November.

MISCELLANEOUS
Report on Afghan Migration – Between July and September 2024, 786,769 Afghan citizens left Afghanistan while 973,696 returned, according to the IOM. The report, Mobility Dynamics at Afghanistan’s Borders, highlights migration driven by economic opportunities, healthcare access, family visits, and safety concerns. Nearly six million Afghans now reside in Iran and Pakistan, with 3.75 million in Iran and 2.05 million in Pakistan, making Afghans the world’s largest refugee population, surpassing Syrians. The full report can be accessed here

Lack of Electricity at Mes Aynak – Afghanistan’s Aynak copper mine faces setbacks due to unreliable electricity, according to the Chinese company Metallurgical Corporation of China (MCC). During a recent meeting, MCC emphasized that insufficient power could hinder progress on the project, despite a $2.5 billion investment agreement. Persistent delays, mainly due to security concerns, have stalled significant work on the mine, which holds one of the world’s largest untapped copper reserves.

Link

Afghanistan

Taliban detains group of women at Khair Khana, Kabul

2024-01-09

[KhaamaPress] According to sources, the Taliban
Taliban

...mindless ferocity in a turban...
detained a group of women in the Khair Khana area on Sunday.

Sources said that the Taliban’s Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice officials have detained and imprisoned dozens of women and girls in Kabul, citing the reason as "non-compliance with Taliban’s dress code."

The group arrested several women along the route from the Parwan Hotel to Gola-e-Park using a Ranger vehicle.

Meanwhile,
...back at the precinct house, Don Calamari's lawyer was getting even redder in the face...
reports say that earlier on the same day, the Taliban had detained a group of girls and women in the Taimani area of Kabul.

In recent days, the Taliban’s Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has initiated a new wave of detentions of girls and women in various areas of Kabul.

Earlier, the group detained several girls and women in the western area of Kabul, including Dasht-e-Barchi, due to their hijab and clothing.

The Taliban’s Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice had previously confirmed to the media that they had detained some women in western Kabul on charges of "improper dressing." However,
it was a brave man who first ate an oyster...
they did not specify the exact number of detainees.

There have been reports indicating that the group is detaining more women in different areas of Kabul.

Some sources in Kabul have mentioned that when the family members of the detained girls in western Kabul approached Taliban offices, they were asked to demonstrate against supporting the hijab that the Taliban had in mind. After being coerced into protests, they demanded the release of the detainees, but Taliban officials refused to free them.

Taliban arrest women for ‘Bad Hijab’ in Afghanistan, sparking fear and outrage
January 6, 2024
[KhaamaPress] At least a week ago, authorities from the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, in coordination with intelligence forces and security agencies, have been detaining girls in some regions of Kabul due to what is referred to as “bad hijab” or “non-observance of Islamic dress code.” According to the girls, this action has sparked widespread reactions and instilled fear.

So this has been going on for a while, while we were distracted elsewhere.

Mullah Abdulghaffar Farooq, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, stated to the media that these detentions were carried out to prevent “vice” and prevent bad hijab, leading to the detention of several girls.

The recent detentions of girls and women in western Kabul have been prominent in the past two to three days. Reports indicate that more than a dozen girls were transferred to security agencies due to inadequate hijab. Most of these detentions have been reported in areas of Dasht-e-Barchi, Pol-e Khoshk, Qalai-e Naw, and Pol-e Sukhta.

The continuation of these detentions has raised serious concerns among the girls in these areas. Mezhgan, one of the detained girls, told Khama Press that the authorities took her from the market, and she spent a day in detention.

Mezhgan described her detention: “My sister and I went out to buy something from our house. When we entered the market, there was a commotion as the forces of the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice arrived, and young girls and teenagers were desperately looking for a place to hide.”

She added, “My sister and I entered a shop, and from the window, I saw several men in white clothes instructing some ladies who were wearing full black attire and had sunglasses on to get on a vehicle. The black-clad ladies forcefully placed the girls on the vehicle using electric shocks.”

Mezhgan further mentioned that when she tried to record these moments with her mobile phone, she was also detained and had her phone confiscated.

Sahar, living in western Kabul, said, “I study in a girls’ school, and when I came out of the school, the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice forces wanted to detain me, but I resisted.”

Sahar added that she now refrains from going to school out of fear of being detained.

Sources in Kabul’s Taimani district claim that the authorities from the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice have detained several girls, even though they were wearing appropriate hijab, allegedly because they possessed “smartphones or cameras.”

The spokesperson for the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice of Taliban, however, states that female police officers are present during detentions, and no harm comes to the girls.

These detentions due to non-compliance with hijab have faced criticism from human rights organizations and UN experts. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Afghanistan, wrote on his Twitter page that detaining girls for “bad hijab” restricts women’s freedom of expression.

Mr. Bennett has called on the Taliban administration to release the detained girls unconditionally.

Amnesty International has also expressed concern about the detention of girls in Kabul, stating, “The Taliban’s arbitrary detentions and crackdowns violate women’s freedom of movement and expression in Afghanistan. Suppression must cease immediately, and those detained must be released.”

Naseer Ahmad Faiq, Afghanistan’s interim representative to the United Nations, regarding the detention of girls, emphasizes that no government has previously attacked the culture and way of life of its people. He adds that people in Afghanistan currently lack mental security and peace.

Link

Afghanistan

Taliban Reportedly Stop 100 Afghan Female Students From Flying to UAE for Studies

2023-08-25

[VOA] The Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
have allegedly barred a group of maiden of tender yearss from leaving Afghanistan for the United Arab Emirates, where they were expected to complete university studies.

Khalaf Al Habtoor, a prominent Emirati businessman, said in a video message on X, formerly Twitter, that he had sponsored about 100 Afghan female students to enable them to pursue their education in collaboration with the University of Dubai.

But he said that his office received "the uncomfortable news" Wednesday morning that Taliban authorities prevented the girls from boarding a plane waiting for them at Kabul airport.

"This has left me lost for words to describe the disappointment I currently feel," said Al Habtoor, the founder and chairman of Al Habtoor Group, described as one the UAE's most respected and successful businesses.

He said that he was "sad today" because the students could not reach Dubai, where his organization had already arranged university admissions, accommodation, transport, and security for the group after months of efforts.

"The authorities in Afghanistan, without justification, prevented their departure, unjustly curtailing their freedom. This stands as a profound tragedy, a blow against the principles of humanity, education, equality, and justice," Al Habtoor added.

"I request all involved parties to quickly step in and help rescue and assist these struggling students," the Emirati businessman said.

Taliban authorities did not immediately comment on the allegations.

The fundamentalist Taliban have banned girls from attending schools beyond the sixth grade since reclaiming control of Afghanistan in August 2021.

Late last year, the hardline de facto authorities stopped female students from attending university classes nationwide.

The move prompted Al Habtoor in December to offer scholarships to 100 female Afghan university students to help them continue their education in Dubai.

He also posted a voice message from a student who was prohibited from traveling to Dubai but did not disclose her identity.

"We are right now in the airport, but unfortunately, the government [won’t] allow us to fly to Dubai. Even they don't allow those traveling with a mahram [male guardian]," the student said.

"They don't allow us when they see the student visa and ticket. I don't know what to do. Please help us. We are so concerned about this matter," the student added.

The Taliban have banned Afghan women from undertaking foreign travel unless accompanied by a male family member. They have also barred many women, including female Afghan staff of international aid groups, from workplaces.

8 a.m. Media puts it at at least sixty female students, adding:

It is worth noting that last year, the Taliban disseminated official documents through the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice to airports and land borders, outlining restrictions on the travel of unaccompanied women.

According to these documents, women were forbidden from traveling distances exceeding 72 kilometers without a legal male guardian.

Similarly, last year, 19 female students in their third year of studies, who held scholarships at a university in Uzbekistan, were turned back by the Taliban when attempting to cross the border at Hairatan.

The recent actions by the Taliban have raised concerns regarding the prospects of female students pursuing higher education abroad under their rule. The international community continues to observe the unfolding situation closely.

Khaama Press also reports 100 Afghan female students, adding:

Last year, this UAE businessman pledged 100 scholarships for girls in Dubai, coinciding with their denied university access.

The prominent Al-Habtoor Business Group operates across various sectors in Dubai, including hospitality, automotive, education, and publishing.

Link

Afghanistan

Taliban Set Musical Instruments Ablaze in Herat and Warn Sellers

2023-07-31

[8am] The Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
’s Directorate for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Herat
...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns...
province has reported the burning of musical instruments in the region.

According to Aziz Rahman Muhajir, the head of the directorate, a number of musical instruments were collected by the authorities from various points in Herat and set on fire yesterday.

Muhajir sternly warns against listening to music and declares that they will take serious action against those who sell musical instruments.

He denounces the promotion of music as corruption and considers playing it as a cause of youth misguidance and societal decay.
Tipper Gore nods in approval
In the aftermath of the Taliban’s resurgence in Afghanistan and the increasing restrictions against artists, many have been forced to flee the country or lead a clandestine existence away from the Taliban’s watchful eyes.

This incident is not isolated, as there have been reports of the Taliban burning musical instruments in several other provinces.

Link

Afghanistan

Afghan Women Complain Of Harassment, Threats By Taliban's Morality Police

2023-07-18

[RFERL] Women in the western Afghan city of Herat
...a venerable old Persian-speaking city in western Afghanistan, populated mostly by Tadjiks, which is why it's not as blood-soaked as areas controlled by Pashtuns...
say they have been harassed and threatened by members of the Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
’s notorious morality police for not wearing the hijab, or Islamic head scarf.

The complaints come a week after the Taliban deployed more members of the morality police across Afghanistan’s third-largest city, according to local residents who spoke to RFE/RL’s Radio Azadi.

Soon after seizing power in 2021, the Taliban ordered all women in public to cover their faces by wearing an all-encompassing burqa or a niqab that is common in the Arab Gulf states.

The Death Eater group said punishments, including arrest or even jail time, could be imposed on violators.

One woman, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, said she was traveling with her father by car when they were stopped by members of the morality police. She said the car was impounded and they were ordered to show up at the Ministry of Public Affairs for questioning after she was accused of not wearing a hijab.

Another woman who spoke on condition of anonymity said members of the morality police forced her out of a taxi, accusing her of improperly wearing the hijab. "The taxis don’t pick up women anymore," she said.

The morality police are overseen by the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice and enforce the Taliban’s religious edicts, including its strict dress code and gender segregation in society. During the Taliban’s first stint in power in the 1990s, the force was notorious for publicly beating offenders, including women.

The Taliban has imposed severe restrictions on women’s appearances, freedom of movement, and their right to work and education since it regained power in August 2021.

Rights campaigners have accused the hard-line Islamist group of trying to erase women from public life and imprison them in their homes.

In a new report issued on July 17, the United Nations
...an organization conceived in the belief that we're just one big happy world, with the sort of results you'd expect from such nonsense...
Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said the Taliban had further increased restrictions on women and girls in recent months.

UNAMA said it had "recorded instances where the de facto authorities took steps to enforce previously announced limitations on women’s freedom of movement and participation in employment."

The agency said it also "recorded instances when the [Taliban] interfered in NGOs led by women, or employing them."

Link

Afghanistan

Taliban Summon Beauty Salon Owners’ Family Members in Afghanistan’s Ghazni

2023-07-08

[KhaamaPress] The Director of Promotion of Virtue and Prohibition of the Taliban
Taliban

...the Pashtun equivalent of men...
in Ghazni Province reportedly summoned the family members of several owners of women’s beauty salons on Thursday and warned them to end their activities by the end of the month.

The Department’s officials have threatened to prosecute and punish the husbands of the owners of these beauty parlours or other family members in case of violation.

According to the decree issued by the Taliban’sTaliban’s Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, women’swomen’s beauty parlours in Afghanistan will no longer be allowed to operate after July 23, 2023.

According to a report, more than 60,000 women will lose their jobs due to the closure of women’swomen’s beauty salons across the country.

According to the Khaama Press report, there are over 12,000 women’swomen’s beauty salons throughout the country, with an average of five women employed by each. There are 3,100 women-only beauty salons in Kabul.

It is also important to note that most women support their families solely through employment.

Since August 2021, the de facto authorities issued some suppressive policies and practices which restricted women’s rights, including banning women from attending schools and universities and working with aid agencies.

Human rights activists and the international community have massively criticized the recent decree by the Taliban.

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Afghanistan

Taliban Crack Down on Barbers: Trimming Beards Now a Criminal Offense

2023-06-04

[8am] Local sources in Nimruz province have reported that the Taliban
Taliban

...Arabic for students...
’s Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has issued a warning to barbers in Zaranj city, urging them to refrain from shaving their customers’ beards.
Even the wymyns?
According to the sources, the Taliban’s Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Nimruz issued a warning to all barbers in Zaranj on Monday, May 29, advising them against shaving and trimming their customers’ beards, reducing the length of their hair in Western styles, and displaying "illicit" pictures in their barbershops.

In a notice issued to these barbers, it is stated that the "offenders" who disregard the warning and engage in such activities will face legal consequences starting from Tuesday, May 30, and will not have the right to file complaints.

Some barbers in Nimruz claim that the purpose of the Taliban’s legal pursuit in promoting virtue is to imprison them.

These barbers further state that the restrictions imposed by the Taliban have resulted in a loss of their customers.

It is worth noting that following their seizure of power, the Taliban have imposed numerous restrictions on the social life of citizens in the country.

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Afghanistan

Taliban Release 4 Journalists Detained for Entertainment Shows

2023-05-13

[VOAnews] The Taliban
Taliban

...mindless ferocity in a turban...
released four Afghan journalists on Wednesday after detaining them for two days in the southeastern province of Khost
...which coincidentally borders North Wazoo and Kurram Agency...
Sakhi Sarwar Miakhil, editor in chief of Gharghasht TV; Pamir Andish, editor in chief of Cheenar Radio; Abdul Rahman Ashna of Nan FM, and Mohammaduddin Shah Khiali, editor in chief of Wolas Ghag Radio were released by the Taliban, according to a statement by the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee.

AJSC stated that these journalists were detained Monday by the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice after they were summoned for "a seminar."

"Officials at the Directorate of the Promotion of Virtue (of the Taliban) in Khost Province told the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee that the editors of the mentioned outlets were summoned for a reform seminar," added AJSC’s statement.

A local journalist with knowledge of the case who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal told VOA that the journalists were detained for the entertainment shows that were aired in April for the Eid celebration that marked the end of Ramadan.

"It was because in some of the shows [for Eid], music was played. There were entertainment shows, possibly with female voices," the journalist said.

The Taliban banned on-air music and entertainment programs after seizing power in August 2021.

Journalists in some provinces have told VOA that the Taliban barred them from airing female voices.

Gul Mohammad Graan, president of the Afghan chapter of the South Asian Association of Reporters Club and Journalists Forum, told VOA that the absence of a clear media policy by the Taliban has created "confusion" among the journalists.

"They do not know what to air and what not to," he added.

Graan said the disorder is also the result of an "interference" of different agencies of the Taliban’s government.

"Although the [Taliban’s] current government stresses that without the Ministry of Information and Culture, no government agency has the right to interfere in the media affairs, the Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and the Intelligence in the capital and provinces are imposing their own restrictions on media," he said.

Graan said the Taliban announced last year that the media law under the former government is in effect until a new media law comes into force, but "this is not the case."

In February 2022, Taliban spokesperson Zabiullah Mujahid said that the Mass Media Law of Afghanistan "is still enforceable."

Sumaya Walizada, a spokesperson for the Afghanistan Journalists Center, told VOA that according to Afghanistan’s mass media law, the government "should not interfere in the operation of free media."

Beh Lih Yi, Asia program director at the Committee to Protect Journalists, called on the Taliban "to immediately end the arbitrary arrests of Afghan journalists."

She told VOA that journalists in Afghanistan "have been detained simply for doing their job."

"We are concerned," she said, adding that there are still two Afghan journalists in the Taliban’s detention, and "we call on their immediate release."

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