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Summary
The Taliban's recent ban on women working in Nangarhar's carpet weaving industry has left hundreds, including widows and sole breadwinners jobless, further eroding women's rights and livelihoods in Afghanistan.
In another blow to women’s rights and livelihoods, the Taliban has imposed a ban on women working in the carpet weaving industry in Nangarhar Province. The ban, in effect for the past four days, has left hundreds of women, many of whom are widows unemployed. These labor-intensive jobs were often the only source of income for women, particularly widows and sole breadwinners struggling to support their families.
This restriction follows a series of harsh decrees that have systematically eroded women’s roles in Afghan society since the Taliban took power in 2021. Despite previous bans on office work, some women had managed to rely on jobs in industries like carpet weaving. Now, with these avenues closed, their means of survival are further diminished.
Recently, the Taliban has also issued a decree banning the construction of windows in residential buildings that overlook neighboring homes, especially those housing women. According to the order, new buildings must not include windows that face courtyards, kitchens, or living spaces of adjacent properties. For existing buildings, residents are required to block the view by constructing walls or using coverings.
Since returning to power, the Taliban has implemented sweeping restrictions on Afghan women. These include bans on education, limits on healthcare access, early marriage enforcement, and the exclusion of women from political participation. In December, the Taliban ordered all NGOs operating in Afghanistan to stop employing women, threatening closure for noncompliance.
