When they came to power in August 2021, they promised to be different. They claimed that they had changed and were no longer the Taliban that ruled Afghanistan for the last five years of the 1990s. what did they learn their mistakes. Afghans will be freer than before, international community he could trust them and open the doors to the new Taliban-ruled Kabul.
They lied. But the lie gradually happened gradually. up orbit this culminated – for now – with its ban in December. women enter college and working in NGOs. But the restrictions have already started from the beginning. In September 2021, less than a month after the victory, men’s institutes They reopened after the summer vacation. The ones for the girls, not under promise what to do later they never opened.
Traveling with a parent
On the same September 19, the Taliban, officer woman He said they can stay at home. On 26 December 2021, the Government travel to another city without Guardian – a man from the same family. In January 2022, scarf, Islamic headscarf has become compulsory. In March, it was confirmed that girls can read. only up to primary school.
Women stopped on May 3 it may take. On the 7th of the same month, women cover their faces fully loaded. Mandatory headscarf was introduced compulsory burqa.
In October, the Taliban banned a woman from choosing clothes. engineering studies, journalism, veterinary medicine, agriculture and geology in college. In November Afghans stopped entering parks, gyms and baths – they could enter before, but only with male ‘guards’. And already in December, a few weeks ago, women University access and in addition, they can sting NGO.
Exclusion police and his deputy
“They have been enforcing their restrictions from the beginning, but now chastity and immorality police [una especie de policía de la moral]Inspecting women’s clothing,” explains a young Afghan woman, nilabfor Afghanistan Analyst NetworkA research group on the Asian country.
“A few months ago, I was stopped when I was going to buy it because I don’t wear a burqa or I have a male bodyguard. That’s what the shopkeepers said. don’t leave women alone in stores. Since then we still try to go but if the Taliban finds out that we are going without burqas or wearing makeup, they will investigate where we live and threatening our guardians”, explains this young woman.
According to Nilab, initially Taliban agents were gathering on the streets everywhere, looking for people to intimidate for not following the new rules. Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan [el nombre oficial del gobierno talibán]. Now, a year and a half later its presence has waned, which doesn’t mean the risk is no longer there.
“The Taliban are warning the men in the region. mosques they shouldn’t let women leave home or go to any public space without them. They are told that if they see a woman alone on the street, it will be a problem for her guardian. they even threatened taxi drivers that’s why they don’t accept single women,” says Nilab.
A story that repeats itself
All these restrictions do not appear out of the blue, and it was not in the nineties when they were last applied. For the next 20 years, International presence In Afghanistan, the Taliban controlled territory in the Central Asian country, specifically Afghanistan. rural southwest from the country. The new rules out there are neither new nor surprising: they have been in place for decades and even longer.
in the countryside of Afghanistan, ultra conservative tradition mark it when a girl has it pieceis is be forced into marriage. From that moment on, he no longer leaves the house where he was imprisoned to fulfill his duty. housework and care both the husband’s parents and the incoming children. But now is the time to reach these restrictions. big cities more open than in the countryside.
“Generally, Afghan society is traditional.and education is very low, especially in my area, the majority of men support these restrictions. But those who are educated and know that these prohibitions are terrible, afraid to speak. If they do, they will be arrested. For example, my father is against all this, but he is silent to save himself,” says young Nilab. Nimruz province.
He summarizes the last year and a half of the Taliban rule as follows: “Women should wear the burqa, while men should beard. People obey because they are afraid of being arrested and punished. Restrictions are increasing. The Taliban can’t stand the sounds of happiness For example, when there is a wedding, agents come suddenly. stop the music otherwise they will arrest all the men in the family.”