Taliban Imposes Ban on Windows Overlooking Women’s Living Spaces in New Buildings

Subheadline:New Regulations Seek to Curb “Immoral” Visibility of Women in Private Spaces**

**Islamabad (Qudrat Newspaper)** – In a new decree issued by the Supreme Leader of the Taliban, a ban has been imposed on the construction of windows that overlook the parts of residential buildings typically used by Afghan women. The order also mandates that existing windows in these areas be blocked.

According to a statement from the Taliban government spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, the new regulations are aimed at preventing the visibility of areas such as courtyards, kitchens, wells, and other private spaces where women commonly carry out their daily activities.

The decree, shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), states that it is considered “immoral” to allow women to be seen working in kitchens, courtyards, or fetching water from wells. The government has stressed that such visibility could lead to “obscene behavior.”

As part of the new directive, building owners are encouraged to construct walls or install barriers to block any views that might cause disturbances to neighbors. Municipal authorities and other relevant departments are tasked with monitoring construction sites to ensure compliance with these regulations and prevent unwanted visibility of women’s spaces.

This move is the latest in a series of restrictions on women since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021. The Taliban regime has progressively pushed women out of public life, leading to widespread international criticism. The United Nations has condemned the Taliban’s policies, particularly regarding “gender-based apartheid.”

Under the current Taliban government, women have been banned from receiving education beyond primary school, restricted from working, and denied access to parks and other public spaces. A recent law also prohibits women from publicly singing or reciting poetry, encouraging them to remain silent and concealed in public spaces.

These new measures further cement the Taliban’s implementation of an extremely strict interpretation of Islamic law, raising concerns over the increasing limitations on women’s freedoms in Afghanistan.