Afghanistan no longer allows women to work for NGOs

They promised more flexibility when they returned to power. The Taliban are doing exactly the opposite. The economy ministry said authorities ordered national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to stop working with the women after “serious complaints” that they did not follow the proper dress code. “There have been serious complaints about non-compliance with the Islamic wearing of the hijab and other rules and regulations regarding the work of women in national and international organizations,” the ministry responsible for licensing NGOs operating in Afghanistan said.

A spokesman for the ministry confirmed that the Ministry of Economy had sent an order to NGOs. “In case of non-compliance with the directive (…), the organization’s license issued by this ministry will be canceled,” the letter states.

Draconian measures multiply

The announcement comes just four days after the Taliban government decided to ban Afghan women from the country’s public and private universities indefinitely. Remember that they, for example, are not allowed to fly alone.

Minister of Higher Education, Neda Mohammad Nadeem, explained in a TV interview that he made the decision because “female students who entered the university (…) did not follow the instructions for wearing the hijab.” “The hijab is obligatory in Islam,” he insisted, referring to the requirement for women in Afghanistan to cover their face and entire body.

Despite their promises to be more flexible, the Taliban returned to the over-strict interpretation of Islam that marked their first tenure (1996-2001). Since their return to power in August 2021, the draconian measures have intensified, especially against women who have been progressively excluded from public life and excluded from colleges and high schools.