Afghan Witness Reports

The Taliban's decree to cap female salaries has caused widespread confusion and sparked protests among women employees.

In audio clips circulated online in March, the Taliban’s Supreme Leader emphasised the strict implementation of Sharia punishments and spoke of harsher punishments for women.

The Taliban’s reported detentions for non-compliance with hijab rules have received mixed reactions: contradictory claims from Taliban officials, concern from local groups, and condemnation from international community.

2023 saw Afghan men engaging in protests driven predominantly by economic concerns, but also in solidarity with women and minorities, risking their personal safety and financial security

Verifiable videos circulated online showing the Taliban using a water cannon and gunfire into the air to disperse protesters.

Interviews with women in the sector reveal that some organisations have replaced their female directors with men to allow operations to continue, while one president of a women-focused NGO says she is using her personal savings to keep office doors open.

While one of the protesters was reportedly released the next day, women's rights protester Narges Sadat is thought to still be in detention.

Pro-Taliban social media activists accused female NGO workers of espionage and spreading immorality.

Afghan Witness spoke to a university student, and a professor who resigned after the Taliban’s announcement.

The Taliban reacted by sending military vehicles to various larger cities to deter protests and, in some cases, used water cannons, gunfire into air and physical violence against protesters.

Local sources in Faryab told AW that women in the province had been banned from amusement parks, gyms, female public baths, and eating at local restaurants without a Mahram.

In late October, women showcased their academic documents in a Kabul park to protest the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s access to education and work. The women claim the Taliban intimidated them and tore their papers, and journalists were reportedly dispersed and temporarily detained. On November 3, it was reported that the Taliban detained one of the women protesters during a press conference.