KABUL: Afghan women who own and operate beauty salons, have congregated in Kabul for a two-day demonstration, denouncing the recent decision by the Taliban regime to forcibly close their businesses.
The resilient women contend that this action will plunge their female-headed households into abject poverty. Their impassioned plea is directed towards Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, who is purportedly residing in the southern Kandahar province, renowned for his seclusion from public appearances and refusal to engage with women.
Akhundzada’s edict to shutter all women’s beauty parlours within a month represents the latest addition to a long catalogue of discriminatory policies imposed by his self-proclaimed Islamic Emirate. Such draconian measures have earned Afghanistan the ignominious distinction of a “gender-apartheid regime” from both the United Nations and various human rights organizations, according to VoA.
Taliban regime’s strict measures
They have shuttered universities, schools, educational institutions, and job opportunities, and now they are also closing this avenue for women. I am at a loss as to what the leaders of the Islamic Emirate desire from us, voiced one woman to TOLOnews, a local television channel.
Another woman added, “My employment sustains two households with disabled children.”
Despite the impassioned pleas of these protesting women, the decision to close down the salons will inevitably be implemented, according to Mohammad Sadiq Akif, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry of Sharia Enforcement, the entity responsible for issuing this controversial decree.
We have already presented both economic and Islamic justifications, stated Akif during an interview with VOA.
The Taliban contends that these salons impose unnecessary and exorbitant costs upon men during wedding ceremonies, as brides are typically taken to these establishments. Akif further expounded in a video message, “Additionally, they carry out practices such as hair implants and eyebrow plucking, which are contrary to the principles of Sharia.”
Contrary to these assertions, the protesting women adamantly claim that their salons strictly adhere to principles of personal hygiene and provide cosmetic services without engaging in any activities deemed un-Islamic.
Human rights groups have vehemently denounced the Taliban’s order to close down the beauty salons, accusing the Islamist regime of attempting to obliterate women’s presence from the public sphere entirely.
Taliban leaders, on the other hand, maintain that their decisions are rooted in Afghan culture and Islamic values.
