KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Nasir Ahmad Faiq, Afghanistan’s envoy to the United Nations, has strongly criticized the Taliban’s latest restrictions, describing them as a blatant demonstration of hostility against the Afghan people.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on December 30, Faiq highlighted Afghanistan’s ongoing struggles, including international isolation, political and social instability, economic turmoil, and breaches of its territorial integrity.
Amid this crisis, he noted, the Taliban continue to issue decrees imposing further restrictions, particularly targeting women.
“The escalation of these pressures and the exploitation of humanitarian aid are unmistakable symbols of the Taliban’s enmity toward the Afghan people,” Faiq said.
Under Akhundzada’s leadership, more than 100 edicts have systematically stripped women of their rights. These include bans on girls’ education beyond the sixth grade, prohibition of women’s higher education and employment—including at UN agencies—and restrictions on access to public spaces such as parks, gyms, beauty salons, and restaurants.
In the latest decree, the Taliban leader has ordered the construction of windows designed to obscure women from view.
Additionally, the Taliban’s Ministry of Economy has warned NGOs against violating the ban on women’s employment, threatening to revoke the licenses of organizations that fail to comply.
Reports also indicate the Taliban may aim to shut down NGO operations entirely.
Despite these challenges, NGOs remain active in delivering humanitarian aid to Afghanistan’s most vulnerable populations. However, women have been banned from working in these organizations since last year, significantly hindering aid efforts in a country already in crisis.
The United Nations has condemned the Taliban’s gender policies as a form of “gender apartheid,” underscoring the growing isolation and suffering of women and girls under Taliban rule.
