Taliban morality enforcers have asked local residents to identify women employed by international aid agencies, including UN, sources said.
According to residents who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns, Taliban morality enforcers visited several mosques in the city and told congregants that women working in these offices were “foreign spies.”
They urged people to report the names and details of women in their neighborhoods who are employed by international organizations.
The move comes amid mounting concerns from aid agencies that Taliban restrictions on female employment are obstructing humanitarian operations. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has said more than half of returning Afghan women have been unable to access services due to these limitations.
Tom Fletcher, UN assistant secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, stressed the necessity of women staff during a press briefing this week.
“Afghanistan, you know the challenges,” Fletcher said, recalling his recent visits to Kandahar, Kunduz and Kabul. “The recent earthquakes have affected nearly half a million people, killed thousands and destroyed homes and livelihoods. We are facing urgent appeals for disaster response. Our female humanitarian workers are absolutely essential. Without them, we cannot do our jobs.”
Taliban have increasingly tightened restrictions on women since returning to power in 2021, barring them from most jobs, public spaces and higher education. Human rights groups and UN officials say the measures amount to systematic gender persecution.
