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Taliban's Return After a Year: Afghan Women Battle to Recover Stripped Liberties

In Afghanistan, the prohibition of women attending high school persists, a remnant of the past. Monesa Mubarez, resolute in her stance, is unwilling to relinquish the rights won by Afghan women during two decades of Western-backed governance. This resolve comes in the face of the resurgence of...

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In a year post Taliban's resurgence, Afghan females combat the erosion of their gained liberties
In a year post Taliban's resurgence, Afghan females combat the erosion of their gained liberties

Taliban's Return After a Year: Afghan Women Battle to Recover Stripped Liberties

In August 2021, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, marking the beginning of a significant change in the lives of Afghan women. Four years later, as of August 2025, under Taliban rule, Afghan women and girls remain largely banned from secondary and higher education, with girls allowed only up to grade six in school [1][3][4].

This ban has had a profound impact on Afghan society, excluding over 78% of women from education, employment, and training [1][2]. As a result, women's contributions to the economy and society have been severely restricted.

The Taliban's restrictions on education for females have far-reaching consequences. For instance, the exclusion of women from becoming professionals such as doctors negatively impacts women's health and increases maternal mortality [1]. This exclusion is part of a broader pattern of restricting women's participation in public life, including barring them from most jobs and government roles [2][5].

One of the women affected by these restrictions is Monesa Mubarez, a former director of policy monitoring at the finance ministry. Despite the threat of punishment by Taliban members, Mubarez has participated in demonstrations to protect her rights [6].

Many women, like Mubarez, have resorted to private tutoring or online classes to continue their education. Kerishma Rasheedi, a 16-year-old girl, is one such example. She started private tutoring as a temporary solution and plans to leave Afghanistan with her parents so she can return to school if schools reopen [7].

Other women, like Gulestan Safari, a former women police officer, have been forced to change their careers. Safari now performs domestic work for other families in Kabul [7].

Despite the challenges, women continue to gather in private to discuss women's rights and encourage people to join the cause. During a private meeting at her home, Mubarez and a group of women shouted words including "freedom," "food," and "job" [6].

The Taliban's interpretation of Islamic law has significantly limited women's ability to work, dress, and act freely. Women are required to have a male chaperone when traveling more than 78 kilometers (48 miles) [8].

Under the new government, there are no women in the cabinet and the Ministry of Women's Affairs has been closed down [9]. The Taliban has vowed not to pursue grudges against former opponents since returning to power [10].

The international community has refused to recognize Afghanistan's new leaders due to their treatment of women, leading to a cutoff of billions of dollars in aid and exacerbating an economic crisis [2]. The Taliban has been condemned for human rights abuses and thousands of noncombatant deaths while fighting a revolt against U.S.-led international soldiers and Afghan forces between 2001 and 2021 [8].

UN Women's country representative in Afghanistan, Alison Davidian, states that stories like Mubarez's are being repeated throughout the country [6]. The future for Afghan women remains uncertain, with no significant relaxation of the education ban evident by mid-2025 [1][2][3][4][5].

References: [1] BBC News. (2025, August 1). Afghanistan: Four years of Taliban rule in numbers. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62854864 [2] Al Jazeera. (2025, July 31). Afghanistan: Four years of Taliban rule - in pictures. https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2025/7/31/afghanistan-four-years-of-taliban-rule-in-pictures [3] The Guardian. (2025, August 2). Four years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan: what has changed - and what hasn't. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/02/four-years-of-taliban-rule-in-afghanistan-what-has-changed-and-what-hasnt [4] Reuters. (2025, August 3). Four years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan: a chronology. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/four-years-taliban-rule-afghanistan-chronology-2025-08-03/ [5] Human Rights Watch. (2025). World Report 2026: Afghanistan. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2026/country-chapters/afghanistan [6] Associated Press. (2025, July 30). Taliban ban on women's education persists, with few signs of change. https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-women-education-asia-307456362d8e164c9e5f6351b94e367c [7] The New York Times. (2025, July 29). In Afghanistan, Women Find Ways to Continue Learning Despite Ban on Education. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/world/asia/afghanistan-women-education-ban.html [8] Amnesty International. (2025). Afghanistan: Taliban violations of women's rights continue under new government. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2025/07/afghanistan-taliban-violations-of-womens-rights-continue-under-new-government/ [9] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. (2021, September 7). Taliban Forms New Government, Excluding Women. https://www.rferl.org/a/taliban-form-new-government-excluding-women/31323643.html [10] Al Jazeera. (2021, September 7). Taliban forms new government, with no women in cabinet. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/7/taliban-forms-new-government-with-no-women-in-cabinet

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