KABUL: Dozens of Afghan women took to the streets of Kabul on Wednesday to protest against a recent order by Taliban authorities to shut down beauty parlours, further restricting their participation in public life in Afghanistan. Security officials responded with force, firing shots in the air and using firehoses to disperse the gathering.
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, they have implemented various oppressive measures against women, including banning them from high schools and universities, prohibiting their access to parks, funfairs, and gyms, and enforcing strict dress codes in public.
The latest order issued last month targets the closure of thousands of beauty parlours across the country, many of which are operated by women and serve as vital sources of income for households. The ban also eliminates one of the few remaining opportunities for women to socialize outside their homes.
The protesters, numbering around 50, gathered on Butcher Street, known for its concentration of salons in the capital. Public demonstrations are rare in Afghanistan and are often met with forceful dispersal by security personnel. Videos and photos shared by the protesters revealed authorities using a firehose and firing shots to break up the gathering.
Protesting Afghan Women Disappointed with Authorities
One salon worker, who requested anonymity for security reasons, expressed disappointment that their peaceful protest did not lead to dialogue or attention from the authorities. The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice had previously given salons a month to shut down, citing extravagant spending on makeovers as a hardship for poor families and deeming certain treatments as un-Islamic.
UN’s special rapporteur for Afghanistan said beauty parlours played a significant role in Afghan society over the past two decades, providing a safe space for women to gather and socialize away from men, while also offering essential business opportunities. The recent restrictions on women’s rights and economic activities by the Taliban have drawn international condemnation, with the UN’s special rapporteur for Afghanistan describing the situation as “gender apartheid.”
The Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, who rules from Kandahar, stated that Afghan women were being freed from “traditional oppressions” through the adoption of Islamic governance. However, women continue to face severe limitations on their freedoms, including restrictions on employment and education.
