The supreme leader of the Taliban has mandated a prohibition on the installation of windows in residential structures that face areas frequented by Afghan women, instructing that any existing windows be obscured.
A statement from the Taliban government spokesperson indicated that new constructions must not include windows that allow visibility into “the courtyard, kitchen, neighbor’s well, and other locations typically utilized by women.”
The decree, shared by government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid on the social media platform X, asserts, “Observing women engaged in kitchen activities, in courtyards, or gathering water from wells may incite indecent behavior.”
Municipal authorities and relevant departments are tasked with overseeing construction sites to ensure that visibility into neighboring residences is prevented.
Should such windows already be present, property owners will be urged to erect barriers or otherwise obstruct the view “to mitigate disturbances to neighbors,” as stated in the decree.
Since the Taliban regained control in August 2021, there has been a systematic exclusion of women from public life, leading the United Nations to condemn the establishment of “gender apartheid” by the regime.
Taliban officials have prohibited girls and women from pursuing education beyond primary levels, imposed restrictions on employment, and denied access to parks and other communal spaces.
A recent law has even banned women from singing or reciting poetry in public, while also advising them to “veil” their voices and bodies when outside their homes.
Additionally, several local radio and television stations have ceased the broadcasting of female voices.
