Taliban ban women from Band-e-Amir National Park

In Afghanistan's Band-e-Amir National Park, a prominent natural site in Bamyan Province known for its turquoise lakes, women are prohibited from visiting. The restriction follows a mandate issued in August 2023 by the Taliban authorities.

Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, representing the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, justified the ban by citing the need to uphold specific moral standards. Travel influencer ‘travelkevkev’ highlighted the disparity during a recent visit, noting the absence of women at the scenic location and emphasizing the inequality between men and women regarding access to public leisure spaces.