Afghanistan’s Taliban Govt Bans Motorists From Offering Women A Ride

Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities said Sunday that women seeking to travel anything other than short distances should not be offered transport unless they are accompanied by a close male relative.

The guidance, issued by the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, also called on all vehicle owners to offer rides only to those women wearing Islamic hijabs. Ministry spokesman Sadeq Akif Muhajir told AFP on Sunday:

Women travelling for more than 45 miles (72 kilometres) should not be offered a ride if they are not accompanied by a close family member.

The guidance comes weeks after the ministry asked Afghanistan’s television channels to stop showing dramas and soap operas featuring women actors.

The ministry had also called on women TV journalists to wear hijabs while presenting.

Muhajir said Sunday that the hijab would also be required for women seeking transport. The ministry’s directive also asked people to stop playing music in their vehicles.

The Taliban’s interpretation of the hijab — which can range from a hair covering to a face veil or full-body covering — is unclear, and the majority of Afghan women already wear headscarves.

Since taking power in August, the Taliban have imposed various restrictions on women and girls, despite pledging a softer rule compared with their first stint in power in the 1990s.

In several provinces, local Taliban authorities have been persuaded to reopen schools — but many girls still remain cut off from secondary education.

Early this month, the Islamist group issued a decree in the name of their supreme leader instructing the government to enforce women’s rights.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Programme in a new report said the Taliban’s move to restrict women from working could immediately cost the Afghan economy up to $1 billion, or 5% of GDP.

The UN report painted a grim picture of Afghanistan’s economy which is under strain with soaring inflation and an ongoing cash crunch.

Women account for 20% of the country’s workforce and preventing them from working could deduct half a billion dollars alone from household consumption.