Afghanistan Under Taliban: Freedom Denied as Women's Divorce and Officials' Smartphones Face Control

In northern Afghanistan's Jawzjan province, an 18-year-old woman, her face concealed, sought a divorce from her abusive husband at the governor's office. Governor Abdulllah Sahadi, a former Taliban commander, denied her request, citing Islamic law that prohibits divorce without a husband's consent. The woman's plea that her honor and dignity were already compromised fell on deaf ears, illustrating the stark reality of women's lives since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021.

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If you get divorced, you will lose your dignity and honor.

The BBC reported that human rights conditions in Afghanistan have reached an extreme. The need for a woman to seek permission for divorce from a provincial governor underscores the oppressive rule. The Taliban have reverted to a harsh interpretation of Islamic law, similar to their previous rule in the 1990s. This includes prohibiting secondary education for girls over 12, restricting women's access to public spaces and long-distance travel, and even banning radio broadcasts for women.

The restrictions extend beyond women. The Taliban's Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice mandates adult men to grow beards of a certain length. Recently, smartphone use has been banned for government employees. The BBC noted that the restrictions have become even more severe than during their visit two years prior.

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My honor and dignity have already been violated.

Despite simmering discontent, the Taliban government is actively suppressing dissent. A new police law, released on August 22, officially prohibits all domestic protests. According to AmuTV, an independent media outlet operating under censorship, the law contains 53 articles, explicitly banning all demonstrations within Afghanistan. Taliban police are authorized to use electroshock batons and water cannons to maintain public order.

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All protests within the territory of Afghanistan are prohibited.

Afghanistan's economic hardship is intensifying, compounded by international isolation as only Russia officially recognizes the Taliban government. The UN Development Programme and UNHCR issued a joint statement on August 8, highlighting a severe, climate-induced food crisis and a record number of refugees, urging international attention. The International Rescue Committee reported in August that a six-year drought has led to extreme famine, affecting approximately 4.7 million people, with aid significantly reduced.

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The food crisis in Afghanistan is at its worst level on record, yet the international community has reduced the financial aid needed to respond to the crisis. It is the most difficult period in my 40 years of working in Afghanistan.