A Grim Timeline: The Decline of Women’s Rights in Afghanistan Under the Taliban
27 JAN 2025
Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the lives of women and girls have been upended by a series of regressive policies and restrictions. What began with promises of inclusive governance quickly spiraled into a systematic dismantling of women’s rights, affecting every aspect of their lives, from education and employment to personal freedom and public presence.
A decree endorsed by supreme leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, mandating head-to-toe clothing for women. "those women who are not too old or young must cover their faces, except the eyes," it read
Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has called on Muslim leaders to challenge the Taliban’s actions, asserting that there is “nothing Islamic” about their oppressive policies. But what are these policies, and how have they unfolded over the years?
September 2021: Girls Barred from Secondary Schools
The Taliban’s attitude towards women became clear within weeks of their return to power. In September 2021, secondary schools reopened for boys, but the Ministry of Education made no mention of girls. Although Taliban leaders claimed they were working on implementing segregation policies aligned with Islamic principles, the reality on the ground told a different story. Many girls, including a 17-year-old in Kabul who spoke to the BBC, were simply told not to attend classes.
The absence of a definitive timeline for reopening girls’ schools has led to widespread uncertainty, and despite repeated promises, girls remain barred from accessing secondary education in most parts of the country.
October 2021: Women’s Affairs Ministry Replaced by “Morality Police”
Barely a month into their regime, the Taliban shut down the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, which had previously worked to advance women’s rights and address gender-based violence. In its place, they reinstated the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, often referred to as the “morality police.”
This body enforces strict codes of conduct, including gender segregation, dress codes, and other restrictive measures. For many Afghan women, the closure of the Women’s Affairs Ministry marked the end of institutional support and a return to an era of unchecked patriarchal control.
May 2022: Head-to-Toe Clothing Mandated
In May 2022, the Taliban announced a new dress code for women, mandating head-to-toe coverings, with only the eyes visible. The decree, issued under the authority of Supreme Leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, emphasized that compliance would be enforced by male family members, who risked facing consequences if women in their households did not adhere to the rule.
The dress code not only stripped women of personal choice but also placed the burden of enforcement on families, further tightening societal control over women’s appearance and movements.
Women training as midwives and nurses in Afghanistan have told the BBC they were ordered not to return to classes effectively closing off their last route to further education in their country
November 2022: Women Barred from Parks
By late 2022, women were barred from entering parks, marking another step in their erasure from public spaces. Initially allowed to visit on segregated days, they were later prohibited altogether, further isolating them and restricting their opportunities for recreation and social interaction.
This decision also highlighted the Taliban’s overarching aim of minimizing women’s visibility in society, even in informal settings.
December 2022: Universities Closed to Women
In a move that sparked international condemnation, the Taliban banned women from attending universities in December 2022. Videos of young women crying outside university gates went viral, capturing the anguish and despair of those whose dreams of higher education were abruptly shattered.
The decision marked the end of nearly all formal education opportunities for Afghan women, leaving them with little hope of professional or personal growth in the future.
July 2023: Beauty Salons Shut Down
Hair and beauty salons, one of the few remaining spaces where women could gather without Taliban scrutiny, were ordered to close in mid-2023. This directive not only eliminated a safe haven for women but also resulted in the loss of livelihoods for an estimated 60,000 women employed in salons across the country.
The closure of salons represents the Taliban’s relentless drive to erase women’s autonomy and independence, even in private, women-only spaces.
September 2023: Women Silenced in Public
In another shocking restriction, a Taliban minister announced in September 2023 that women’s voices should not be heard in public spaces. This effectively silenced women outside their homes, leaving them unable to express themselves or participate in public discourse.
Such a measure underscores the Taliban’s intention to render women invisible, both physically and socially, within Afghan society.
December 2024: Midwifery and Nursing Courses Closed to Women
In December 2024, women training to become midwives and nurses were ordered to stop attending classes. Institutions across Afghanistan confirmed receiving instructions to suspend women’s education in healthcare, with videos circulating online showing students weeping as they were turned away.
This decision is particularly devastating, as it not only blocks women’s access to the medical field but also undermines healthcare access for Afghan women, who rely heavily on female healthcare professionals in a segregated society.
What Does the Taliban Say?
The Taliban has defended these restrictions by claiming they align with Islamic principles and religious texts. They have repeatedly stated that issues such as education for women will be resolved in due course. However, years of inaction and increasingly repressive measures suggest otherwise.
The promises of readmitting women to schools or allowing them to participate in public life remain unfulfilled, leaving little hope for meaningful change under the current regime.
The Consequences of Systematic Exclusion
Since their takeover, the Taliban’s policies have systematically stripped Afghan women of their rights, opportunities, and freedoms. From education to employment, public presence to personal expression, women have been pushed to the margins of society.
While the Taliban justifies its actions under the guise of religious conformity, these measures have drawn widespread condemnation from international leaders, activists, and organizations. For the women of Afghanistan, however, the world’s outrage offers little solace as they face an uncertain and increasingly oppressive future.
