KABUL: The Taliban authorities have banned women and families from restaurants with gardens or green spaces in Herat province, northern Afghanistan, an official said Monday. The authorities took action amid complaints from religious scholars and clerics about the mixing of genders in such these, the authorities added.
It was the latest among some of the harsh restrictions imposed by the Taliban since they took power in the month of August 2021. They have shut girls out of their classrooms above sixth grade and women and girls students from universities. They also banned women and girls from public spaces like gyms and parks.
The outdoor dining ban would be applicable only to establishments in Herat, where such premises would be remained open for men only.
Restaurants Having Gardens are Banned Only
Deputy official of the Ministry of Vice and Virtue’s directorate in Herat province, Baz Mohammad Nazir, denied media reports that all the restaurants were off limits to women and families, calling it just mere propaganda.
It applied only to those restaurants having green areas, like parks and green lawns where men and women could meet, he added. “After repeated complaints from the general public and scholars, we set limits and closed these restaurants.”
Nazir also denied reports that sales of DVDs of foreign films, TV shows, and music materials are banned in the province, adding that business owners were advised not to sell this material because they were against Islamic values.
Shopkeepers who were not able to follow the advice eventually saw their shops closed, he added. He also rejected local media reports that Internet cafes have been closed in Herat, however, added that gaming arcades were now off-limits to children as they had inappropriate content. Some games insulted the holy Kaaba and other Islamic places and symbols.
