The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has been actively proclaiming its purported achievements regarding women’s rights, particularly on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid lauded the progressive steps claimed by the organization, asserting that they had effectively prevented child marriages and imposed penalties for domestic abuse. These announcements from the group, which returned to power in 2021 following the U.S. withdrawal, emphasize its ideological framework that intertwines their version of Islamic law with policy decisions affecting women. However, the Taliban’s actual policies over the past three years paint a starkly contrasting picture, characterized by severe restrictions on women’s freedoms and rights.
Throughout the Taliban’s rule, it has mandated a series of oppressive regulations that limit women’s roles in society drastically. Women are required to cover themselves fully in public, are often not permitted to leave their homes unaccompanied, and have been virtually barred from education and employment. This systematic repression reflects a return to the strict measures imposed by the Taliban during its previous governance in the 1990s. Despite their claims upon regaining control that they would uphold women’s rights “within the framework of sharia,” these promises have resulted in increasing restrictions and a stifling environment for women.
Mujahid’s claims about the Taliban’s achievements in women’s rights included providing inheritance rights to about 20,000 women and preventing what he described as thousands of forced marriages. These statements, however, lack credible evidence and contrast sharply with reports of actual abuses under Taliban governance. Investigative reports, such as one by the BBC, have exposed the regime’s rollback of marriage annulments that had been granted under the previous government, forcing young brides back into unwanted and potentially abusive marriages. Such revelations highlight a significant disparity between the Taliban’s rhetoric and the lived realities of Afghan women.
In the same breath, Mujahid expressed that the Taliban is working to stop domestic violence, a claim he supported with no substantial evidence or verifiable data. Instead, he acknowledged that the Taliban’s practices fall significantly short of international standards regarding women’s rights. His admission reflects an understanding of the widespread criticism facing the Taliban at home and abroad, yet his defensive posture indicates the regime’s unwillingness to genuinely reform or improve the conditions for women under its authority.
On the day Mujahid made these claims, further developments revealed the Taliban’s continued focus on reinforcing its ideological values rather than prioritizing women’s rights. The establishment of the “General Directorate for the Preservation of Jihadi Values” signals a firm commitment to propagating the regime’s extremist interpretations of Islam, including policies that further restrict women’s visibility and participation in public life. Such initiatives underline an ongoing trend within the Taliban’s governance to curtail not just the physical presence of women in society, but also their voices, aspirations, and fundamental human rights.
Overall, while the Taliban regularly touts its purported advancements in women’s rights, the verifiable reality reflects a harrowing and oppressive landscape for Afghan women. The regime’s few claims of improvement are overshadowed by a both historical and ongoing commitment to subjugating women under an extreme interpretation of Islam. Despite the Taliban’s propaganda and attempts to project an image of reform, the international community and activists continue to call attention to the grim socio-political conditions faced by women in Afghanistan, seeking accountability and advocating for genuine change.