In Afghanistan Taliban orders closure of hair and beauty salons

KABUL: In the latest blow to women’s freedom in Afghanistan, the Taliban has ordered the closure of all hair and beauty salons.

The move is part of a series of increasing restrictions on women since the Taliban seized power in 2021.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Vice and Excellence confirmed that businesses had been given a one-month deadline to comply, starting on July 2 when they were initially informed of the decision.

Since their return to power, the Taliban have steadily curtailed women’s rights, from banning teenage girls and women from schools, gymnasiums and public parks to working for the United Nations.
A recent decree states that women must wear clothing that only reveals their eyes and must be accompanied by a male relative when traveling more than 72 kilometers (48 miles).

This latest restriction on women’s autonomy is a reversal of measures previously implemented by the Taliban during their rule from 1996 to 2001.
However, after the US-led occupation in 2001, hair and beauty salons slowly reopened in Afghanistan.

Despite international condemnation and widespread protests by women and activists, the Taliban continue to tighten their grip on women’s rights.
The closure of beauty salons has sparked outrage among Afghan women, who see it as a serious violation of their basic human rights.
An Afghan woman speaking to the media said that the Taliban are taking away basic human rights from Afghan women. They are violating women’s rights… they are trying to eliminate women at every level of public life.

The decision to close down beauty salons not only deprives women of livelihood but also eliminates the space where women could serve and empower each other.