Taliban orders all of Afghanistan’s hair and beauty salons to close

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Published Jul 5, 2023 at 02:17 PM

Reading time: 1 minute

46474

In a distressing blow to the already dwindling rights of women in Afghanistan, the Taliban has issued a directive ordering the closure of all beauty salons in the country. The move, seen as another oppressive step by the extremist group, further restricts women’s freedoms and exacerbates the country’s ongoing economic crisis.

On Tuesday 4 July 2023, the spokesperson for the Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Propagation of Virtue, Muhammad Sadiq Akif, declared that “the deadline for the closing of beauty parlours for women is one month” and that “violators of the edict will face legal action.”

Makeup artists denounced the latest curtailment of women’s rights as draconian and warned it would worsen the difficulties faced by families confronting Afghanistan’s spiralling economic crisis. “The new ruling is shocking for me and many other make-up artists. We earn hand to mouth amidst high inflation and now we are facing a situation where our families will die of starvation,” an interviewee in the capital, Kabul, told The Telegraph.

Draconian measures are thwarting economic stability in Afghanistan

With Afghanistan already grappling with an economic crisis, many families rely on the income generated by beauty establishments to make ends meet. The new ruling has left makeup artists and beauticians in a state of distress, foreseeing dire consequences for their families’ well-being.

The Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan has resulted in a significant setback for women’s rights. They have taken steps to limit women’s freedom by closing girls’ high schools, barring them from universities, and imposing restrictions on their activities in gyms and parks.

The oppressive measures enforced by the extremist group have impeded the country’s economic recovery efforts, leading to soaring food prices and widespread unemployment as well as skyrocketing poverty levels and erasure of job opportunities.

In yet another blow, the group has barred women from participating in humanitarian work, leading to the suspension of crucial aid programs by the United Nations (UN). Tens of thousands of female aid workers, who play a vital role in providing assistance to vulnerable communities, have been forced out of their jobs. Afghan women, who have fought tirelessly for their rights and empowerment, find themselves once again silenced and marginalised.

The current situation in Afghanistan demands immediate international attention and support to restore the hard-fought progress that has been shattered, a problem exacerbated by a Western invasion of the country following 9/11.

Keep On Reading

By Jack Ramage

Four ways you can help the people of Afghanistan right now

By Sofia Gallarate

3 ways we can fight for women’s rights all year round (not just on IWD)

By Monica Athnasious

As violence against women continues to rise in the UK, roofies are making a dreaded comeback

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Kim Kardashian’s Paris $10 million heist: grandpa robbers tell all as trial begins

By Charlie Sawyer

Emma Watson reveals disgusting paparazzi ambush on her 18th birthday

By Charlie Sawyer

Who is Zohran Mamdani, the staunch socialist primed to become New York’s first Muslim mayor?

By Charlie Sawyer

The #MeToo movement is at risk. How the Harvey Weinstein retrial risks doing unimaginable damage 

By Abby Amoakuh

Tiktoker gets slammed by dermatologists for promoting dangerous caveman skincare regime

By Charlie Sawyer

Odd Muse founder Aimee Smale fights back against fast fashion controversy on TikTok

By Charlie Sawyer

Harry Potter TV series crew bewildered over production’s strange decision on location to film iconic scene

By Eliza Frost

Why do people want a nose like the Grinch? The Whoville TikTok trend explained

By Charlie Sawyer

Yung Filly’s legal troubles mount as the rapper faces two new sexual assault charges in Australia

By Abby Amoakuh

John Lithgow fumbles JK Rowling question as Harry Potter TV show cast struggles with fan backlash

By Eliza Frost

Jennifer Lawrence weighs in on The Summer I Turned Pretty love triangle, revealing she is Team Jeremiah

By Eliza Frost

We finally know why Conrad and Belly broke up in The Summer I Turned Pretty season 2

By Charlie Sawyer

Chris Brown is facing over 10 years in prison. Here’s how his violent past has led him here

By Charlie Sawyer

Call Her Daddy host Alex Cooper accuses former soccer coach of sexual harassment in new docuseries

By Eliza Frost

The swag gap relationship: Does it work when one partner is cooler than the other?

By Eliza Frost

Glen Powell’s GQ photoshoot is a satiric look at modern day males—and he’s in on the joke 

By Eliza Frost

Everything to know about Justin Lee Fisher, arrested at Travis Kelce’s home over Taylor Swift deposition papers from Justin Baldoni