Reports from NGOs and international organizations monitoring women's rights

Taliban Bans Windows Overlooking Women's Areas to Prevent 'Obscene Acts', Orders Existing Ones Blocked

Dec 29, 2024, 08:20 PM

The Taliban's supreme leader has issued an order banning the construction of windows in residential buildings that overlook areas used by Afghan women, stating that existing windows should be blocked. The directive, aimed at preventing 'obscene acts,' specifies that new buildings should not have windows through which it is possible to see 'the courtyard, kitchen, neighbor's well, and other places usually used by women.' According to a statement released by Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, municipal authorities are tasked with monitoring construction sites to ensure compliance. This move is part of a broader set of restrictions imposed by the Taliban since their return to power in August 2021, which have progressively marginalized women from public spaces and prompted international criticism for establishing a 'gender apartheid.'