The Taliban’s supreme leader has issued an order prohibiting the construction of windows in residential buildings that overlook areas where women usually work or spend time. Existing windows with such views must also be blocked, according to a statement shared late on Saturday by Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, as report by Dawn News. The decree specifies that new buildings should avoid windows allowing visibility into “the courtyard, kitchen, neighbour’s well, and other places usually used by women”. Mujahid stated on social media platform X, “Seeing women working in kitchens, courtyards, or collecting water from wells can lead to obscene acts.” pic.twitter.com/N6IHWcMZXh — Zabihullah (..ذبـــــیح الله م ) (@Zabehulah_M33) December 28, 2024 Local municipal authorities and other departments have been tasked with ensuring compliance at construction sites. The directive also encourages property owners to build walls or use other means to obstruct views from existing windows to prevent “nuisances caused to neighbours”. Since the Taliban regained power in August 2021, women have faced increasing restrictions, sparking criticism from the United Nations, which has labelled the situation as “gender apartheid”. The Taliban has banned girls and women from post-primary education, restricted their employment, and denied them access to parks and other public spaces. A recent law has even forbidden women from singing or reciting poetry in public and urged them to “veil” their voices and bodies when outside their homes. Some local media outlets have stopped airing female voices altogether. Despite these measures, the Taliban claims that Islamic law “guarantees” the rights of both men and women. - with inputs from Dawn News
