Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership has issued a decree prohibiting the construction of windows in new residential buildings that overlook areas typically used by women. The order also mandates that existing windows with such views must be blocked, citing concerns about preventing “obscene acts.”
According to a statement released late Saturday by Taliban government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, new residential buildings must be designed to ensure there are no views of “the courtyard, kitchen, neighbor’s well, and other places usually used by women.” The decree, posted on social media platform X, states: “Seeing women working in kitchens, in courtyards, or collecting water from wells can lead to obscene acts.”
The order directs municipal authorities and construction regulators to oversee compliance with the new policy. Homeowners with existing windows that provide such views will be encouraged to build walls or otherwise obstruct visibility to “avoid nuisances caused to neighbors.”
This latest directive aligns with the Taliban’s broader efforts to restrict women’s visibility and participation in public life since their return to power in August 2021. Women have been banned from post-primary education, barred from most forms of employment, and denied access to parks, gyms, and other public spaces.
Additionally, a recent law forbids women from singing or reciting poetry in public, while urging them to “veil” their voices and bodies outside their homes. Several local radio and television stations have also ceased broadcasting female voices.
These measures have drawn international condemnation, with the United Nations accusing the Taliban of enforcing “gender apartheid.” Despite this, the Taliban administration claims their strict interpretation of Islamic law “guarantees” the rights of both Afghan men and women.
