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Taliban’s Harsh New Decree: Women in Afghanistan Face Grim Future

Kalyani Jha
29 Mar, 2024

In a recent chilling announcement, the Taliban’s Supreme Leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada declared that women in Afghanistan will face stoning to death for adultery, marking a disturbing turn in the already dire situation for women under Taliban rule.

The announcement, made through a voice message on state TV, underscores the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law, which clashes sharply with international standards of women’s rights. Akhundzada brazenly rejected criticisms of such punishments, emphasizing that their work has only just begun since seizing power in Kabul.

Since the Taliban’s resurgence in 2021, Afghan women have been subjected to severe restrictions and discrimination. The ban on girls attending secondary school, followed by the closure of universities for women and limitations on their employment opportunities, paint a grim picture of gender inequality under Taliban rule.

The United Nations has termed the situation for Afghan women and girls as the ‘worst globally,’ likening the Taliban’s policies to ‘gender apartheid.’ The restrictions imposed have led to a rise in forced marriages, depriving girls of their agency and pushing many into despair and even suicide.

As the international community grapples with the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Afghanistan, the plight of Afghan women remains a stark reminder of the challenges ahead in advocating for human rights and gender equality in conflict-ridden regions.