The Taliban announced today that women who want to travel long distances must be accompanied by a male relative, in another sign that the regime is toughening its stance despite initial promises.
The directive, published by the Ministry of Virtue and the Prevention of Corruption and circulated on social media, also calls on drivers to accept women in their vehicle only if they wear the ‘Islamic headscarf’.
“Women traveling more than 45 miles (72 km) cannot make the journey without being accompanied by a member of their immediate family,” ministry spokesman Sadiq Akif Muhajir told AFP. to be a man.
The directive comes weeks after the ministry asked the country’s television stations not to broadcast series starring women and to ensure that women journalists wear the “Islamic headscarf” when appearing on screen.
The Taliban do not specify what they mean by “Islamic headscarf” if it is a simple headscarf already worn by the majority of women in Afghanistan or something larger that covers more.
Since coming to power in August, the Taliban have imposed various restrictions on women and girls, despite initial commitments that their status would be less stringent than it was during their first administration (1996-2001).
In many provinces, local authorities have agreed to reopen girls’ schools, although in various parts of the country many girls are still unable to return to school.
Activists hope the Taliban’s efforts to gain recognition from the international community and regain the help it needs from the country – one of the poorest in the world – will force them to make concessions.
During their first term in office, the Taliban had forced women to wear burqas. They could not leave their home without being accompanied by a man and had no right to work or be educated.
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