Taliban enforces strict social codes and restrictions on women in Afghanistan

Under Taliban rule, women in Afghanistan face increasing suppression and systemic barriers to public life. Reports indicate that girls are barred from secondary education, women are excluded from most professions, and restrictions have been placed on their ability to travel or visit recreational spaces.

In Kabul, the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice actively monitors social behavior. Enforcement actions include addressing issues such as improper beard length for men, women appearing without face coverings, and the playing of music in vehicles. The morality police also target perceived moral transgressions, such as the separation of genders in restaurants and the sale of prohibited items like water pipes.

Legal challenges for women remain severe, particularly regarding divorce. In one instance, a governor discouraged an 18-year-old woman seeking a divorce due to domestic abuse, suggesting she would struggle to find another husband and would lose her dignity. Obtaining a divorce remains exceptionally difficult within the current judicial system, as it often requires the consent of the husband.