On November 9, 2022, Afghan women were prevented from attending Kabul’s amusement parks after the Taliban’s morals ministry announced that there will be limitations on women’s access to public parks.
When questioned, a representative of the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (MPVPV) acknowledged that women would be prohibited from entering parks, but they did not answer to inquiries for more information.
The extent of the limits and their impact on an earlier MPVPV directive requiring that parks, including outdoor areas, be divided by gender and set aside for women on specific days were unclear.
A call for comment was ignored by Bilal Karimi, a deputy spokesperson for the extreme Taliban leadership.
Taliban spies were present and observing the situation when numerous women were turned away by park staff at an amusement park with rides in Kabul.
For security reasons, Masooma, a Kabul resident, had intended to take her grandchild to the park but was turned away. “When a mother arrives at park with their kids, they have to be allowed in because they haven’t seen anything wonderful. They have to play and be entertained. We are now coming home after much pleading to let us enter the park was refused” she said.
In order to speak freely about this difficult issue, two park managers requested anonymity. They claimed Taliban representatives had instructed them to forbid women from entering their parks.
Since taking control of Afghanistan last year, the Taliban have enforced the belief that women should not leave the house without a male relative and must wear face coverings, though some urban dwellers choose to disregard this tradition and some women are now allowed to work in government institutions. On indications that all girls’ high schools would open in March, the group also reversed course.
The Taliban, according to Western nations, needs to change its position on women’s rights before the Taliban administration can receive official recognition. According to the Taliban’s understanding of Islamic law, they support women’s rights.
Research Associate