Females working in Kabul’s city hall have been ordered to stay home by the Taliban, despite their past promises of honoring women’s rights. The Taliban is an Islamic extremist group that originally took control over Afghanistan in 1994 and resumed control in August of this year. Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid is calling this order, “[It’s] a very temporary procedure.” 

Kabul’s interim mayor, Hamdullah Namony, explained that the Taliban rulers have issued the order for female city workers to remain home, a further decision is pending. Namony further detailed that any jobs currently filled by women that are female-only, such as female public toilet attendants and field-specific work, may continue their work. Namony also revealed that municipal city jobs held by women will be filled by men. In addition to Afghanistan’s changes, millions of female students in middle and high school, as well as teachers, are not able to attend school or work. Before the Taliban resumed leadership over Afghanistan, close to one-third, almost 3,000 city employees in Kabul, were women in different departments. In the past when the Taliban had control, a strict form of Islamic law was enforced- causing women to wear coverings that reached from their heads to toes and prohibiting women from leaving their homes without being accompanied by a male.

The Taliban also has shut down the Women’s Affair Ministry and has changed the name to “propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice.” Over a dozen women protested outside of the Ministry with signs promoting and voicing that women should be included in public life. Unfortunately, the protest lasted shortly before the women engaged in a confrontation with a man and had to leave the scene. It has not been disclosed as to how many women are staying home as these orders continue.