KABUL, Afghanistan — A number of women say they are being subjected to increased street interrogations and social pressure by Taliban morality enforcers, who have intensified their public presence during the Eid holidays.
Several women told Amu that Taliban enforcers from the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice have stopped them in public spaces, questioned them, and, in some cases, treated them in demeaning or intimidating ways.
“Restrictions have become overwhelming,” said Fatima, a pseudonym used for safety. “I went out to shop for Eid and was stopped by one of their officers. He spoke to us rudely. I’ve spent most of my life in the kitchen, but I’m educated. Thousands of women like me are suffering.”
Women interviewed said they are increasingly fearful of being questioned, even when accompanied by a male family member — a condition the Taliban have made mandatory for women traveling more than 80 kilometers.
“In Afghanistan, even if you’re with a mahram, they still question you about where you’re going,” said Maryam, a resident of Kabul. “That’s why Eid and holidays like Nowruz no longer feel the same.”
Some residents also reported witnessing detentions of women in public by morality officers. They said such incidents, along with strict codes and surveillance, are making daily life especially difficult for women and families.
In response to questions from Amu, Saifuddin Khabir, spokesperson for the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, denied any use of force or abuse. “Our officers only advise women to observe hijab,” he said, adding that the ministry is committed to addressing women’s concerns “within the framework of Islamic law.”
However, rights groups and legal observers say a newly implemented code has expanded the authority of the ministry’s agents. The regulations — criticized by international organizations — reportedly define even a woman’s voice and face as “awrah,” or intimate parts that must be concealed, further restricting women’s freedom in public.
Despite ongoing criticism, Taliban leadership, including the group’s reclusive supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, have repeatedly urged citizens to observe and enforce the virtue-and-vice code strictly during public speeches and provincial visits.
The enforcement of such policies continues to draw sharp criticism from international human rights advocates, who warn that Afghanistan is now among the most repressive countries in the world for women and girls.
