The Taliban’s supreme leader has ordered the prohibition of constructing windows that overlook spaces where women might be visible, claiming it could lead to “obscenity.”
Windows Targeted by the Taliban
The Taliban’s supreme leader now forbids the construction of windows facing residential areas where women might be seen. According to a statement released Saturday evening by Zabihullah Mujahid, spokesperson for the Taliban government, the measure aims to prevent “obscene acts”
“Seeing women working in kitchens, courtyards, or collecting water from wells can lead to obscene acts,” states the document shared on X (formerly Twitter). To comply with this directive, new buildings must avoid windows overlooking neighbors’ private spaces. For existing structures, owners are required to block such windows or build walls to obstruct the view.
Local authorities, including municipal offices, have been tasked with enforcing strict compliance with this rule at construction sites. This measure further disrupts the lives of Afghan women, who are already deprived of fundamental rights.
A Gender Apartheid
This directive is part of a broader policy designed to marginalize Afghan women from all aspects of public and even private life. Since reclaiming power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed numerous restrictions. Women are banned from parks, gyms, and beauty salons. They are prohibited from working in most sectors or studying beyond primary school.
More recently, a law forbade women from singing or reciting poetry, effectively forcing them to “veil” their voices in public. Local radio and television stations have ceased broadcasting female voices, further erasing their presence in the media. “These measures amount to a form of gender apartheid,” the United Nations declared in a recent report, highlighting the progressive elimination of women’s rights.
Women Erased Even in Their Own Homes
The new rule on windows takes the erasure of women to their very homes. By banning the construction or retention of windows with direct views into private spaces, the Taliban enforce an architecture of confinement. Courtyards, kitchens, and other private spaces—often the only areas where women can move freely—are now subject to external scrutiny and restrictions.
This rule also places additional economic burdens on a population already struggling with a severe social and economic crisis, as homeowners are forced to make costly architectural modifications. Furthermore, it fosters tensions among neighbors, encouraging mutual surveillance.
Controversial Religious Justifications
The Taliban defend these restrictions as part of a strict interpretation of Islamic law, claiming the measures “protect” Afghan women’s rights while preserving their dignity. However, many Islamic scholars and theologians dispute the Taliban’s interpretation. “Islam emphasizes mutual respect and balance, but these directives contradict those principles,” explains an Afghan scholar now living in exile.
Silenced Resistance
In a climate where dissent is brutally suppressed, Afghan women and their allies struggle to make their voices heard. Many female activists have been imprisoned, while others have fled the country. Remaining solidarity networks operate clandestinely, striving to provide psychological and material support to women still in Afghanistan.
As the Taliban continue tightening their grip on every aspect of life, the international community appears powerless to halt this escalation. Sanctions and diplomatic pressures have so far failed to achieve meaningful change. Meanwhile, Afghan women bear the brunt of policies designed to render them invisible in all spheres, even within their own homes.