The Taliban announced it plans to close all non-governmental national and foreign groups in Afghanistan that employ women. This comes two years after the group told NGOs to stop employing Afghan women, allegedly because women weren’t wearing their Islamic headscarves correctly.
In a letter posted to X on Sunday, Dec. 29, the Taliban-run Economy Ministry reiterated its order saying, “In case of lack of cooperation, all activities of that institution will be canceled and the activity license of that institution, granted by the ministry, will also be canceled.”
وزارت اقتصاد منحیث مرجع ثبت و راجستر موسسات غیر امارتی، مسولیت انسجام، رهبری و نظارت تمامی فعالیت های انجو های داخلی و خارجی را به عهده دارد.
— Ministry of Economy-Afghanistan (@economy_af) December 29, 2024
بناً یکبار دیگر طی متحدالمال تعقیبی در مورد توقف کار طبقه اناث در موسسات غیر امارتی داخلی و خارجی هدایت داده شده است. در صورت عدم همکاری… pic.twitter.com/kqiW7Re3an
This is the Taliban’s latest attempt to not only control women but intervene in NGOs.
The U.N. Security Council reported it heard female Afghan humanitarian workers were prevented from working even though their work remains essential.
The Taliban denied obstructing aid or interfering with relief operations.
In the three years since the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan and the Taliban took control, it barred women from several jobs and most public spaces. The group also banned women from getting anything beyond a sixth-grade education.
On Saturday, Dec. 28, the Taliban’s leader ordered buildings should not have windows looking into places where women might sit or stand, including homes.
