Taliban Clarifies: Women Can Talk, Except During Prayers

The Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue has clarified recent controversies regarding women’s communication. According to spokesperson Saif Khyber, the restriction on women talking to each other only applies during specific religious activities, particularly during prayers, where they should use hand gestures instead.

This clarification comes after recent media reports cited an audio file attributed to Minister Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, which suggested a broader ban on women’s conversations. Khyber emphasized that women can interact with each other in society and address their specific needs.

However, this comes amid increasing restrictions on Afghan women since 2021, including bans on education beyond sixth grade, employment in most sectors, and public space access. Human rights organizations have accused the Taliban of implementing “gender apartheid” in Afghanistan.

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