The Afghan security forces intervened violently on Wednesday to disperse dozens of women who were protesting in Kabul against the decision of the Taliban authorities to close the beauty salons, further restricting their freedom.
Since returning to power in August 2021, the Taliban have barred women from most secondary schools, universities, and public administrations, barring them from parks, gardens, sports halls, and public toilets, and forcing them to cover up completely when leaving home.
The decision to close beauty salons -announced in a decree published at the end of June- will cause the disappearance of thousands of businesses run by women, whose families often have no other sources of income.
Demonstrations are rare in Afghanistan and are often violently broken up by security forces.
Even so, close to fifty women risked participating in the protests, which quickly drew the attention of the security services, which used water cannons to put an end to the demonstration.
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has already condemned the way the demonstration was dispersed.
“Reports of a massive crackdown on a peaceful protest by women over the ban on beauty salons, the latest violation of women’s rights in Afghanistan, are deeply concerning,” the mission wrote on its Twitter account.
Reports of the forcible repression of a peaceful protest by women against the ban on beauty salons – the latest denial of women’s rights in #Afghanistan – are deeply concerning.
Afghans have the right to express their opinions without violence. In fact, the authorities must defend this.– UNAMA News (@UNAMANews) July 19, 2023
“Afghans have the right to express their views without facing violence,” the United Nations added.
The Ministry for the Prevention of Addictions and Promotion of Virtue, confirming the measure a few days after the promulgation of the decree, clarified that beauty salons had a month to close.
The Taliban authorities justified the decision by the fact that exorbitant sums were being spent on wedding halls, claiming that this places too heavy a burden on poor families.
The Taliban also argue that excessive makeup on the face prevents women from performing ablution before prayers.
Beauty salons proliferated in Kabul and major Afghan cities during the 20-year occupation by US and NATO forces, before the Taliban returned to power.
Source: TSF
