The Taliban’s decision to enforce a ban on windows overlooking areas where women might be visible is not just another oppressive decree—it is a ruthless manifestation of their gender apartheid regime. Under the leadership of Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban’s leader and ideological figurehead, this order symbolizes a deepening assault on Afghan women’s basic rights, freedoms, and very existence in public and private spheres. This draconian directive is not merely an isolated policy; it is part of a systematic effort to erase women from Afghan society entirely. By denying women the right to be seen, to exist freely, and to engage with the world, the Taliban is enforcing a chilling form of control that strikes at the core of humanity, visibility, and dignity.
The Window Ban: What It Means
Under the directive of Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban’s leader, the latest decree mandates that buildings in Afghanistan must not have windows that overlook areas where women might be visible, such as courtyards or living spaces. Property owners are required to either block these windows with barriers or coverings to prevent any view into private spaces. This mandate applies not only to new construction but also retroactively, demanding that existing buildings be altered to comply with the regulation.
Framed under the guise of protecting women’s modesty, this window ban represents a systematic effort by the Taliban to erase women from the public and private spheres. Afghan women have already been stripped of fundamental rights, including access to education, employment, and freedom of movement. The Taliban’s window ban further reduces their visibility, confining them within walls and depriving them of even the semblance of freedom in their own homes.
The ban symbolizes more than oppression—it’s a deliberate step toward cementing a gender apartheid regime. By controlling the most fundamental aspects of women’s lives and spaces, the Taliban send a clear message: women are to exist only as unseen, unheard, and unacknowledged entities within their vision for society. This is not modesty; it is erasure masquerading as morality.
Historical Context of Gender Suppression in Afghanistan
The systematic suppression of women in Afghanistan is deeply rooted in the country’s turbulent history. The Taliban’s first regime in the 1990s was infamous for its draconian measures, including prohibitions on women’s education, employment, and even their visibility in public spaces. Women were confined to their homes, required to wear the burqa, and denied basic human rights under the guise of religious morality.
However, the current wave of oppression under the Taliban’s renewed control is even more calculated and methodical. Unlike the chaotic enforcement of gender-based restrictions in the 1990s, today’s policies are designed to eradicate the strides Afghan women made during two decades of international presence and progress.
Between 2001 and 2021, Afghan women achieved remarkable advancements in education, employment, and political representation. Women held governmental roles, participated in the judiciary, and contributed significantly to civil society. These years saw an unprecedented cultural and social shift, with women reclaiming spaces that had been denied to them for decades.
The Taliban’s return to power, however, has swiftly undone these gains. Their policies go beyond mere repression; they represent an ideological campaign to reverse the social fabric of Afghanistan. The enforcement of extreme gender segregation, the rejection of international human rights standards, and policies like the window ban illustrate a deliberate attempt to erase women from public and private life.
This trajectory reflects a broader vision of a society where women are stripped of autonomy, confined to domestic roles, and rendered voiceless. Such measures are not random acts of control; they are part of a deeply entrenched gender apartheid system, designed to cement male dominance and subjugate women to a permanent second-class status.
The consequences of this historical and ongoing suppression extend beyond Afghanistan’s borders. It sets a dangerous precedent for other regimes and undermines the global fight for gender equality. Afghanistan’s history of gender suppression is a cautionary tale of how regressive ideologies, when left unchecked, can dismantle decades of hard-fought progress in an instant.
The Psychological and Social Impact
The psychological toll of the Taliban’s oppressive measures on Afghan women is profound and devastating. Forced into isolation, stripped of agency, and subjected to relentless indignities, women in Afghanistan are living under a regime that seeks to erase their very existence. The window ban, seemingly a minor restriction, symbolizes the broader campaign to eliminate any trace of freedom or normalcy from their lives. Such measures compound feelings of helplessness, anxiety, and despair, leaving lasting scars on mental health and personal identity.
Socially, the repercussions are equally damaging. Women’s exclusion stifles opportunities for education, workforce participation, and community engagement, effectively silencing half the population. This enforced invisibility not only perpetuates cycles of poverty and inequality but also hinders societal and economic progress.
A society that marginalizes its women undermines its own potential. Women’s contributions are essential to education, innovation, and economic growth. By systematically silencing and suppressing women, the Taliban are ensuring not just their suffering but also the stagnation of Afghan society as a whole. Such policies not only oppress women but weaken the entire nation.
Gender Apartheid in Context
The Taliban’s practices embody a ruthless form of gender apartheid—an intentional, systematic effort to segregate and oppress women purely based on their gender. This is not just a violation of basic human rights; it is a gross crime against humanity. By denying women their right to education, work, mobility, and visibility, the Taliban’s regime perpetuates an institutionalized oppression that leaves women powerless and invisible, with no recourse to challenge their systemic erasure.
The United Nations and international human rights organizations have denounced these policies, but their condemnation has been inadequate in forcing tangible change. The Taliban’s disregard for global norms highlights the need for a more robust response to this ongoing crisis. Words alone cannot undo the devastation being inflicted upon Afghan women every day.
According to the Taliban, women’s mere presence in public, their education, and their employment undermine their interpretation of an ideal society. This toxic ideology is rooted in extremist, patriarchal interpretations of religion, which the Taliban exploit to justify their control over every aspect of women’s lives. In this regime, women are not seen as vital contributors to the fabric of society but as obstacles to be repressed, isolated, and erased. This form of gender apartheid perpetuates a vision of Afghanistan where the fundamental dignity of women is denied, and their presence in public life is unthinkable.
