Five years of Taliban rule, how they have deceived Afghan women On August 16, 2021, the fate of Afghanistan changed dramatically at the airport in Kabul. As U.S.-led forces withdrew, tens of thousands of civilians scrambled to escape the country, clinging to planes or falling to their deaths. Outside this zone, the Taliban had already seized control. The moment marked the beginning of a second Taliban regime. Promises were made, some with conditions. Shortly after taking power, the Taliban held their first press conference in Kabul. They attempted to project a moderate image, assuring local officials who had worked with the United States that they would not target them. They also promised Afghan women a future, stating that they could continue attending school or working and that they were an essential part of society. One official spoke in English, saying, “We are guaranteeing all their rights within the limits of Islam.” This statement, delivered on August 17, 2021, became one of the earliest public assurances from the new rulers. However, many both inside and outside Afghanistan doubted how seriously the Taliban intended to uphold these promises. A senior functionary at the time noted that women’s rights would be considered “within the framework that Islam allows.” This phrasing left room for interpretation, and soon enough, the reality of Taliban governance began to reveal itself. Over the following months, the Taliban progressively restricted women’s freedoms. By May 2022, women were required by law to cover their faces in public. Access to higher education was denied, with girls allowed to attend school only up to the sixth grade. Women were barred from working for humanitarian organizations, participating in sports, or visiting parks. Travel was permitted only under the supervision of male relatives. According to a recent UN survey, half of Afghan women leave their homes no more than twice a month. The enforcement of these restrictions varied significantly between urban and rural areas. In some cities, women still walked openly without veils, while others adhered strictly to the Taliban's dress code. German-Afghan journalist Nabila Lalee, who has visited Afghanistan multiple times in recent years, observed that while some women continued to work, especially those trained as doctors or teachers before 2021, the economic situation made alternative options scarce. She noted that private art classes in Kabul, such as those attended by young women, remained open despite government prohibitions against further education. Despite these constraints, Afghan women found ways to navigate the system. While formal schooling beyond the seventh grade was prohibited, some students enrolled in religious schools, which often offered regular academic instruction. Whether this informal approach would change in the near future remains uncertain. As Lalee explained, “Predictions about Afghanistan remain difficult. Sometimes things can change quickly, but there is little indication that the Taliban will reverse course on women’s rights.” Meanwhile, the broader humanitarian crisis deepened. The lives of ordinary Afghans grew increasingly dire. Nadim, a father of two sons and a daughter, described his family’s struggle to survive in Afghanistan. After returning from Pakistan, he struggled to find stable employment, leaving his family in poverty. His youngest son needed surgery, but the cost was too high. His daughter, once among the top students in Pakistan, could no longer attend school in Afghanistan. “Looking into my daughter’s eyes breaks my heart,” he said. Artists and activists also faced severe challenges. Pomegranate Flower, a 31-year-old artist based in Kabul, launched a visual arts program for girls after schools and universities closed to female students. Despite repeated closures and confiscations of materials, she continued her work. Once, all her art supplies were seized as punishment for painting human faces. She never recovered them. For human rights defenders like Rasoul, a former university professor and activist, life under the Taliban became increasingly dangerous. Arrested in March 2023, he was subjected to interrogation, isolation, threats, and physical abuse. Even after his release, his family remained at risk. In February 2025, he was detained again and spent a night in custody before fleeing to Paris. He continues his advocacy from abroad, determined to give a voice to those silenced in Afghanistan. As the fifth year of Taliban rule draws to a close, the situation for Afghan women remains grim. Their access to education, employment, and public life has been severely curtailed. While some manage to maintain a semblance of normalcy through informal means, the broader landscape shows little sign of improvement. The promise of a better future for Afghan women appears to have been replaced by a rigid, restrictive reality.
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