The Shadow of the Taliban Over Women’s Lives: From Education Bans to Arbitrary Arrests

Kabul – In recent days, the Taliban have launched a new wave of arbitrary arrests targeting women in Kabul, particularly in the Shahr-e-Naw and Dasht-e-Barchi areas. These arrests, which took place between July 15 and July 18, were carried out under the pretext of “not observing Islamic hijab” and have sparked widespread concern among families and international organizations.

According to local sources, the Taliban’s Vice and Virtue forces raided streets, shops, hospitals, and vehicles in the Shahr-e-Naw area, detaining dozens of women without providing legal warrants or official explanations. The women were then transferred to the Ministry of Vice and Virtue’s detention centers. While some detainees have been released on family bail, many remain in custody.

The crackdown continued on Friday and Saturday of the same week in parts of Dasht-e-Barchi, particularly in Kocha-e-Rasalat and Barchi Center, where young women were harshly detained without the presence of female officers. Witnesses reported illegal searches, violent behavior, and direct threats to families.

The United Nations has responded to these events, issuing a formal statement condemning the arrests as a “clear violation of human rights” and calling on the Taliban to immediately release all detainees and end the systematic oppression of women. The statement warned that the continuation of such policies would push society toward enforced silence and a climate of fear.

Despite these protests, the Taliban have yet to respond, and concerns about the fate of the detained women, including the risk of torture or mistreatment in detention centers, persist.

These events are just part of the grim reality that Afghan women have faced since the Taliban’s return to powera situation that reveals new dimensions of oppression, discrimination, and violence every day.

• 1,406 days have passed since Afghan girls were banned from education.
• Arbitrary arrests of women in Shahr-e-Naw and Dasht-e-Barchi under the pretext of “not observing Islamic hijab.”
• Dozens of women detained without legal warrants and transferred to the Ministry of Vice and Virtue’s detention centers.
• The United Nations has condemned the arrests as a “clear violation of human rights” and called for the immediate release of detainees.
• Concerns remain about the risk of torture or mistreatment in detention centers.

The situation for women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule grows more dire by the day. From the denial of education to arbitrary arrests and systematic oppression, Afghan women face countless challenges. The United Nations and other international organizations must increase pressure on the Taliban to end this situation and restore the fundamental rights of women.

For more information, refer to reports from human rights organizations and international bodies.

Reporter: Uranus Musamem
Analytical and news reports from Afghanistan and around the world.