Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the acting Minister of Encouragement of the Desirable and Prohibition of the Reprehensible within the Taliban administration, announced that women are now prohibited from visiting both ordinary and national parks. The announcement was made in Bamiyan and cited Bandi Amir National Park as an example, currently the sole park under such restrictions, Sputnik Afghanistan reported.
This new restriction represents an extension of the previously imposed ban on women's visits to amusement parks, which was initiated in the autumn of 2022. At that time, the justification for the prohibition was linked to visitors' perceived failure to adhere to the Taliban's dress code standards.
Acting Minister Hanafi clarified that the ban would remain in effect until the situation is addressed through a specific normative act. It's important to note that while the prohibition is being enforced, tourism is not categorized as a mandatory obligation within the framework of Sharia law.
Interestingly, Hanafi highlighted that his efforts to advocate for the enforcement of the hijab, the traditional Islamic head covering for women, had been overlooked by the movement's authorities for two years. This may suggest internal divisions within the Taliban regarding the extent of restrictions to be placed on women's mobility and attire.
The prohibition on women's access to parks comes in the wake of broader changes in Afghan society under the Taliban's governance. The movement, which came to power with a promise of upholding traditional Islamic values, has been implementing a range of policies that reflect its interpretation of Sharia law. These policies have included restrictions on women's education and employment opportunities and have sparked concerns about gender equality and women's rights in the country.
Earlier Daryo reported that Taliban ordered closure of hairdressers and beauty salons in Afghanistan.
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