In a recent move that adds to the growing list of restrictions on women’s rights in Afghanistan, the Taliban has announced a ban on women’s beauty salons in the country. The Taliban claims that these salons offered services that were forbidden by Islam and caused economic hardships for grooms’ families during wedding festivities. However, rights groups and female entrepreneurs have expressed concerns about the impact of this ruling. The announcement was made by Sadiq Akif Mahjer, spokesman for the Taliban-run Virtue and Vice Ministry, in a video clip where he listed several services provided by salons that he deemed to be against Islamic teachings.
These services included eyebrow shaping, the use of other people’s hair to augment a woman’s natural hair, and the application of makeup. Mahjer argued that these practices interfered with the ablutions required before offering prayers according to Islamic customs. Additionally, he claimed that salons put economic stress on grooms’ families, who were obligated to cover the expenses of pre-wedding salon visits by the bride and her close female relatives. The ban on women’s beauty salons marks another significant curtailment of rights and freedoms for Afghan women and girls. Previously, they were barred from education, public spaces, and most forms of employment.
The Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, had previously claimed that the group had taken steps to improve women’s lives in Afghanistan, but these recent measures tell a different story. The decision has had a devastating impact on female entrepreneurs like Amena Sharifi, who owns a salon in Kabul. For many women, beauty salons were their only source of income, and the sudden ban has left them uncertain about their future livelihoods. Sharifi expressed her concerns, saying, “The beauty salon was our only income, and now I don’t know what to do? How should we pay for our expenses?”
This ban on women’s beauty salons is part of a broader pattern of restrictions imposed by the Taliban, which raises alarm about the erosion of women’s rights in the country. Human rights organizations and advocates are urging the international community to pay attention to the situation and take action to protect the rights and freedoms of Afghan women. It is crucial to ensure that the progress made in women’s empowerment over the years is not undone, and that Afghan women have the opportunity to thrive and contribute to their society.