Windows have long symbolized connection, providing views of the outside world. However, for women in Afghanistan, they are becoming a source of controversy.
Under new rules imposed by the Taliban, windows in new buildings that face women’s private spaces, such as kitchens, courtyards, and wells, are now prohibited.
Existing windows in homes must also be blocked to ensure privacy.
New Rule Targets Windows Overlooking Private Areas
According to AFP, the Taliban’s supreme leader has issued an order banning windows in homes that face areas often used by Afghan women.
A decree released on Saturday, December 28, 2024, also emphasized the need to block existing windows that face these spaces.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban spokesperson, explained the reasoning behind the rule on social media stating,
“Seeing women working in kitchens, in courtyards or collecting water from wells can lead to obscene acts.”
Authorities Tasked with Monitoring Compliance
Local authorities and other relevant departments have been instructed to monitor construction sites to ensure no windows overlook women’s spaces.
Homeowners with existing windows facing these areas are encouraged to block them off to prevent any disturbances to neighbors.
A Series of Restrictions on Women
This new regulation is just one of many restrictions on women, further limiting their freedoms.
Afghan women are already banned from pursuing education beyond primary school, entering many workplaces, and accessing public spaces such as parks and bathhouses.
Recently, women have also been prohibited from singing or reciting poetry in public, with some local media stations ceasing to broadcast female voices altogether.
Global Concerns Over Gender Rights
The Taliban defends these measures, claiming they are in line with their interpretation of Islamic law, which they say “guarantees” the rights of both men and women.
It also prompts them to “conceal” their voices and bodies when outside the home.
However, international organizations like the United Nations have strongly criticized these actions, calling them a form of “gender apartheid.”
This latest decree, targeting something as simple as windows, only adds to the growing challenges Afghan women face under the Taliban’s strict rule.
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