KABUL, Afghanistan — As the world observes International Day of Women Judges on March 10, Afghanistan’s female judges—once symbols of justice and progress—find themselves in hiding, in exile, or struggling to survive under Taliban rule.
Since the Taliban seized power in August 2021, every female judge in the country has been removed from the judiciary, erasing decades of progress in women’s representation in the legal system. Once at the forefront of efforts to protect vulnerable women and children, these judges have been replaced by Taliban-appointed men, many of whom enforce the group’s strict interpretation of Islamic law.
Before the Taliban’s return, Afghanistan had approximately 300 female judges, many presiding over cases of domestic violence, forced marriages, and family disputes. Their work was critical in a society where women often faced significant barriers to seeking justice. But with their removal, legal experts warn, the country’s judiciary has become increasingly inaccessible to women.
“With the elimination of these courts, women’s access to justice has been severely restricted,” said Nargis Hafidzada, a former judge now in exile.
A justice system without women
Legal analysts say the exclusion of female judges has created a dangerous gap in the protection of women’s and children’s rights. Cases once handled by women with expertise in gender-based violence are now overseen exclusively by male Taliban officials.
“Afghanistan’s judicial framework has been fundamentally altered,” said Nasrullah Stanikzai, a legal scholar. “Women have been erased from the legal system, creating a void that directly impacts those most in need of protection.”
Beyond its impact on justice, the Taliban’s purge of female judges has left many of them at risk. Some have fled the country, fearing retribution from men they once sentenced. Others remain in Afghanistan, unemployed and living under constant threat.
“After the fall of the republic, Afghanistan’s legal system collapsed,” said Mohammad Qasim Homan, a former judge. “All judges, including men, were dismissed. Many of our colleagues now live in precarious economic and security conditions.”
An erased legacy
Women have served as judges in Afghanistan since 1967—a hard-won legacy that now faces extinction. The judiciary is just one of many institutions from which women have been systematically removed since the Taliban returned to power. Today, Afghan women are barred from most jobs, higher education, and even public spaces.
On a day meant to celebrate women’s contributions to justice, Afghan female judges are not presiding over courtrooms but instead navigating a life in hiding. Their absence, experts say, is not just a setback for gender equality—it is a profound loss for the very notion of justice in Afghanistan.
