Taliban leader Hibatullah has ordered a ban on residential windows that face neighboring homes, saying it is to protect the privacy of women

Taliban Leader Hibatullah Issues Order to Ban Residential Windows Facing Neighboring Homes, Citing Women’s Privacy

In a move that has sparked widespread debate and concern, the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, has issued a new directive ordering a ban on residential windows that face neighboring homes in Afghanistan. The rationale behind this order is ostensibly to protect the privacy of women. While this decree may be framed as a protective measure, it raises significant questions about the extent of control the Taliban intends to impose on private life and the ongoing status of women’s rights in Afghanistan.

Understanding the Context: The Taliban’s Rule in Afghanistan

The Taliban’s return to power in August 2021 has marked a dramatic shift for Afghanistan, particularly regarding the rights and freedoms of women. After the fall of Kabul, the international community watched as the Taliban began to reassert its interpretation of Islamic law, often leading to the rollback of many freedoms previously gained, especially for women and girls. Restrictions on education, employment, and public life have been widely reported, with significant curtailing of women’s rights across the country.

The Taliban’s focus on women’s privacy and their physical and social control has become one of the defining features of their rule. The group has historically promoted a very conservative vision of women’s roles in society, restricting their movements, clothing, and interactions with men who are not family members. As part of their broader agenda, the Taliban has imposed dress codes and enforced harsh measures to ensure that women comply with the regulations under their interpretation of Sharia law.

The New Order: Banning Windows That Face Neighboring Homes

In what may seem like a seemingly small matter, the latest decree from Hibatullah Akhundzada places a significant restriction on the architecture of Afghan homes. The order states that residential windows, particularly those facing neighboring homes, should be removed or covered to ensure the privacy of women. The Taliban’s justification for this new mandate is rooted in the belief that women’s modesty and privacy should be upheld at all costs, especially when it comes to safeguarding them from the gaze of non-related men.

On the surface, the directive seems to be an extension of the Taliban’s ongoing campaign to strictly regulate women’s behavior, especially in terms of their visibility to the outside world. Under the previous regime, the Taliban implemented policies that forced women to wear the burqa, a full-body covering, when in public, and to limit their interactions with men who were not their family members. This new order on windows can be seen as an extension of that ethos, further encroaching on women’s personal spaces and restricting their freedom of movement and visibility.

Privacy Concerns: Is This Really About Protecting Women?

The Taliban’s justification for the window ban rests on the claim that it is designed to safeguard women’s privacy. However, critics argue that this move is not about protection, but about control. By limiting the ways in which women can be seen by others, the Taliban is reinforcing a strict interpretation of gender roles that relegates women to the private sphere, stripping them of autonomy and visibility in the public domain.

While privacy is an important issue, particularly in conservative societies, the Taliban’s decree seems to go beyond mere protection, reinforcing a form of surveillance and oppression. By regulating what can be seen through residential windows, the Taliban is further tightening its grip on the lives of ordinary Afghans, using seemingly innocuous measures as tools of control. This order may make women’s lives more confined and isolated, potentially deepening the sense of separation between women and the outside world.

Impact on Women: Increased Isolation?

The impact of this new directive is likely to be significant, especially for women in urban areas where homes are often built close together. The ban on windows that face neighboring homes could create a new form of social isolation, particularly for women who may already be confined to their homes under the Taliban’s broader restrictions. In many cases, women have been forced to remain indoors, with few opportunities for education, employment, or public interaction.

For women in rural areas, the situation may be different, but the impact of such a policy will likely still be profound. With the removal of windows or the covering of them, women’s already limited access to the outside world will be further reduced. The measure could reinforce the division between public and private spheres, with women increasingly confined to their homes and under constant scrutiny.

This move could also discourage the small number of women who have tried to assert their rights or take part in public life. If even the privacy of women within their own homes is subject to regulation, it sends a message that the personal lives of women are constantly under control, not only by their families but also by the government.

International Reaction and Criticism

The international community, particularly organizations advocating for human rights and women’s rights, has already expressed concerns over this latest development. The United Nations, as well as several human rights groups, have condemned the Taliban’s treatment of women, citing the erosion of their rights since the group’s return to power. The United States and European countries, which once invested heavily in Afghanistan’s development, have also voiced their disapproval of the Taliban’s policies, especially regarding the continued exclusion of women from public life.

Critics argue that the Taliban’s latest order is a stark reminder of their oppressive ideology and their attempts to erase women from the public and even semi-private spheres. By controlling how women are seen, even within the confines of their own homes, the Taliban is reinforcing a culture of invisibility and repression that severely restricts women’s opportunities for agency and independence.

A Broader Strategy of Gender Segregation?

The ban on windows facing neighboring homes is part of a broader pattern of gender segregation under the Taliban’s rule. This latest measure adds to a series of restrictions that have been enacted since the group’s return to power, including the closure of girls’ secondary schools, the prohibition on women working in most sectors, and the compulsory wearing of the burqa.

The Taliban’s policies are centered around a strict version of Sharia law, which views women primarily through the lens of family and domesticity. Under this worldview, women are often treated as the property of their male relatives, with their movement, appearance, and interactions heavily regulated. Measures like the window ban reflect the Taliban’s broader strategy to isolate women from public life and remove them from positions of influence or visibility.

Conclusion: The Future of Women’s Rights in Afghanistan

Hibatullah Akhundzada’s directive to ban residential windows facing neighboring homes may seem like a small issue in the larger context of Afghanistan’s political and social landscape. However, it serves as a stark reminder of the Taliban’s growing influence in reshaping Afghan society and the continued erosion of women’s rights under their rule.

As Afghanistan faces increasing isolation on the global stage and growing economic challenges, the international community will continue to monitor the situation, particularly when it comes to human rights and the treatment of women. For the women of Afghanistan, the window ban is another symbol of their struggle for autonomy, visibility, and equality—values that remain threatened in the face of the Taliban’s strict and oppressive policies.