Afghanistan: Taliban bans women from working for NGOs

Women's freedoms person been further curtailed successful Afghanistan, aft the Taliban barred them from moving for non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The Islamist rulers said pistillate NGO employees had been breaking Sharia instrumentality by failing to deterioration the hijab.

Women prevented from going to enactment told the BBC of their fearfulness and helplessness.

One said she was the main earner successful her household, and asked: "If I cannot spell to my job, who tin enactment my family?"

Another breadwinner insisted that she had complied with the Taliban's strict pistillate formal code. "This quality is shocking," she said. "I americium confused what volition hap to my life."

A 3rd pistillate questioned the Taliban's "Islamic morals", saying she would present conflict to wage her bills and provender her children.

"The satellite is watching america and doing nothing," said different pistillate interviewee. The BBC is not publishing the women's names successful bid to support them.

Saturday's edict was announced successful a missive from the Ministry of Economy to some nationalist and planetary NGOs. A Taliban spokesperson confirmed that the ruling applied until further notice.

However, it was not instantly wide whether this would impact UN bodies, which person a ample beingness carrying retired alleviation and improvement enactment successful the country.

The missive threatened to cancel the licence of immoderate organisation that did not swiftly comply.

If NGOs are present lone allowed the employment men, it appears Afghan women volition beryllium incapable to person assistance directly. Separate rules forestall men from moving with women.

It is feared this could worsen wide issues specified arsenic babe mortality successful a state wherever overseas backing for healthcare has present dried up.

The South Asian subdivision of Amnesty International described the prohibition arsenic "yet different deplorable effort to erase women from the political, societal and economical spaces" of Afghanistan.

One imam - whose individuality is again being protected by the BBC - said the Taliban was "not committed to immoderate Islamic value".

He explained: "Islam has not said that men tin amended and women cannot. Or men tin enactment and women cannot. We are confused astir this decision."

A prohibition connected women attending Afghan universities earlier this week met akin condemnation. It triggered protests - including successful Herat connected Saturday - which person been rapidly suppressed.

Since seizing backmost power of the state past year, the Taliban has steadily restricted women's rights - contempt promising its regularisation would beryllium softer than the authorities seen successful the 1990s.

Secondary schools for girls stay closed successful astir provinces. Women person besides been prevented from entering parks and gyms, among different nationalist places.

Additional reporting by Aalia Farzan.