The Taliban held their third bar exam in Kabul on Monday, July 22, once again excluding female candidates.
Several female applicants, who have been waiting for three years to take the exam, expressed their frustration at being denied the opportunity. Some female lawyers have also reported losing their independence and being forced to work under the supervision of the Taliban’s Ministry of Justice.
Marwa, a graduate of law and political science from Herat University, shared her disappointment. “I studied law and political science with the hope of becoming a lawyer, but for three years, the Taliban have not allowed me to take the bar exam,” she said. “Not only have I been unable to take the exam, but my two sisters, who were licensed lawyers, had their licenses revoked. Now we are all unemployed and confined to our home.”
The Ministry of Justice announced that the third round of the bar exam was held in Kabul with the participation of over 500 male applicants. This marks the third consecutive year that women have been excluded from the exam.
Female lawyers have voiced their concerns about being barred from practicing law since the Taliban took power. Many have had their licenses revoked and are unable to participate in legal proceedings or even review case files. They also face threats from released prisoners they had previously prosecuted.
One female lawyer expressed her worries: “Our licenses were revoked two years ago, and we are not allowed to work or attend court sessions. We are also threatened by former inmates whose cases we handled. This is a very serious problem for us.”
Another female lawyer said, “I practiced law for four years, but my license was revoked by the Taliban. Now I am struggling to find work because I am the sole breadwinner for my family.”
Under the previous government, the bar exam was administered by the Independent Bar Association of Afghanistan. However, in December 2021, the Taliban closed the association’s central office in Kabul and halted its activities. It was then announced that Afghan lawyers would have to operate under the Taliban’s Ministry of Justice.
The Afghan Bar Association, established in 2008, had 6,000 members, a quarter of whom were women.
