In what can only be described as a move to further cement their status as the self-appointed protectors of all things “traditional,” the Taliban has announced that they will shut down all national and international NGOs in Afghanistan that employ women. This announcement came just two years after the government told organizations to suspend the employment of Afghan women, a decision reportedly based on the fact that, apparently, women were not wearing their Islamic headscarves correctly.
The latest decree, which has left many scratching their heads in disbelief, was communicated through a letter published on X (formerly Twitter) late Sunday night. The Economy Ministry warned that any NGO failing to comply would see its license to operate revoked. That’s right, NGOs—who typically focus on humanitarian aid, education, and public health—are now expected to face the wrath of the Taliban for simply hiring women.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Economy has been particularly keen on overseeing every bit of activity carried out by national and international organizations in Afghanistan. According to their official communication, failure to comply will result in the cancellation of licenses, leaving those organizations in the lurch. It seems the Taliban are not just managing the country—they are micromanaging your workplace too.
This new law follows a previous ban, which saw the suspension of women from public life, limiting their education beyond the sixth grade, and making it harder for women to hold any significant positions in society. However, the Taliban has continued to assure the world that they are not interfering with humanitarian aid, despite numerous reports from organizations like the United Nations indicating otherwise.
But the truly ridiculous twist in the story lies in a new decree from the Taliban’s top leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. In a bid to safeguard women from the perils of unwanted male gazes, he has now ordered that all buildings must have windows that do not overlook spaces where women might stand or sit. Yes, you read that right. Forget privacy, forget basic architectural design—the important thing is to ensure that windows do not allow men to “accidentally” witness the horror of a woman living her life in the privacy of her own home.
The decree affects both new and existing buildings, and those with windows that might allow the suspicious prying eyes of the male population into places like kitchens or yards are instructed to obscure them with walls, fences, or screens. It seems the Taliban is pushing a “windowless utopia” for women, where safety is ensured by installing barriers between the outside world and their womenfolk.
Municipalities have been instructed to enforce these new rules during construction, as if there weren’t already enough to worry about when building a house. And if the world wasn’t already dizzy from the absurdity of it all, this decree also includes a reminder that all “suspicious” window views must be blocked at all costs.
While the Taliban remains firm in their belief that their actions are “for the protection” of women, the rest of the world seems to be left wondering just how far this absurdity will go. Will Afghanistan become the first country where building designs are dictated by the imagined fears of male gaze? Stay tuned for more bizarre laws from the Taliban as they continue to rewrite the rulebook on everything—from human rights to basic geometry.