The Veil of Control: How Taliban Policies Silence Women and Stifle a Nation's Future

A Regime Rooted in Patriarchy

The Taliban’s ideological stance towards women can be encapsulated by a statement from the Attorney General in Kabul, who described that “the face of a woman is a source of corruption for men who are not related to them”. This sentiment reflects a deeply entrenched belief system that views women not as autonomous individuals, but as potential threats to moral order.

The Taliban

The Taliban are a militant Islamic fundamentalist group that emerged as a prominent faction in 1994 following the Soviet Afghan war (1979-1989). Later, on August 15^th, 2021, the Taliban seized control of Kabul, amidst the withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan; this marked the collapse of the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the re-establishment of Taliban rule after nearly twenty years.  

Rooted in the Deobandi Islamic doctrine, the group impose strict interpretations of tribal Pashtun customary law and Sharia law; for instance, women have been banned from attending school, working outside the home or leaving the house without a mahram (close male relative) and a chadari (full-body veil). These gender-based restrictions embody the Taliban’s blueprint for societal governance, revealing a ideological allegiance to a system that deliberately excludes women from both civic life and economic contribution.

The Return to Power

Since their return to power, the group have released over 70 decrees, a majority of which target women’s rights, freedoms and have systematically erased women from public life. Women are now banned from secondary and higher education, restricted from working in most sectors, and prohibited from traveling without a mahram. Even basic freedoms, such as walking in public parks or visiting beauty salons, have been stripped away.

Education: A Silenced Future

One of the most devastating impacts of Taliban rule has been the ban on girls’ education beyond sixth grade. A private university reported having lost 50% enrolled students and woman’s educational programs were closed due to Taliban policies. Furthermore, girls’ secondary school enrolment plummeted from 14% to just 3% following the ban. This policy not only violates fundamental human rights but also cripples the nation’s future by diminishing long-term female labour market prospects. Educated women are essential to rebuilding Afghanistan’s economy, which faced a catastrophic contraction following the withdrawal of foreign aid and freeze of foreign reserves as an international response to the regime change. By silencing females, the Taliban is not just oppressing individuals, it is sabotaging the country’s potential economic recovery

Economic Consequences

The exclusion of women from the workforce has had dire economic consequences. Afghanistan’s economy, already fragile due to decades of conflict, has suffered further under policies that remove half the population from productive participation as well as reducing the value of human capital. It is clear that sustainable development is impossible without gender inclusion.

Conclusion: A Nation in Chains

The Taliban’s policies toward women are far more than a social issue, they are a national humanitarian crisis. By enforcing gender policies, the regime is stifling innovation, education, and economic growth. Afghanistan cannot move forward while half its population is forced to live in silence. The veil of control is not a mere metaphor; it is a reality that must be lifted. For Afghanistan to have a future, its women must be free.