Taliban's Latest Restriction: Closure of Hair and Beauty Salons
Afghanistan's Women Face Further Freedom Curbs
The Taliban, who took control of Afghanistan in 2021, has issued a new restriction targeting women's rights by ordering the closure of all hair and beauty salons in the country. A spokesperson from the Vice and Virtue Ministry stated that businesses have been given one month to comply with the order, starting from July 2, when they were first informed.
This move is part of measures that have steadily eroded women's freedoms since the Taliban came to power. They have banned women and teenage girls from attending schools, gyms, and parks and forbid them from working for the United Nations. Additionally, they've imposed strict dress codes that only allow women's eyes to be visible and require them to be accompanied by a male relative when traveling more than 72km (48 miles).
The closure of beauty salons was previously enforced during the Taliban's previous rule from 1996 to 2001 but had been allowed to reopen after the 2001 US-led invasion. However, even after regaining control in 2021, the Taliban had permitted these businesses to operate, albeit with restrictions such as covering shop windows and obscuring images of women.
This latest decision has sparked outrage among Afghan women and activists, who see it as another attempt to deprive women of their basic human rights and eliminate their presence in public life. The Taliban's government has not provided a specific reason for the ban or any alternatives that would be available to women once the salons are closed.
The move adds to the ongoing concerns about the deteriorating situation for women's rights in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, with international condemnation and protests having little impact on the group's actions. The closure of hair and beauty salons represents another significant setback for Afghan women, who now face further limitations in their personal and professional lives.
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