Taliban Bans Women’s Entry into National Park

In another oppressive measure against women, the Taliban government in Afghanistan banned women from visiting one of Afghanistan’s most popular national parks.

According to Afghanistan’s minister of virtue and vice, Mohammad Khaled Hanafi, women are barred from visiting the national park because they are not observing the proper way to wear the hijab while visiting the park.

“Going sightseeing is not a must for women,” said Hanafi.

Now women are barred from entering the Band-e-Amir National Park, which was established in April 2009 as Afghanistan’s first national park. This popular tourist spot is described by UNESCO as a “naturally created group of lakes with special geological formations and structure, as well as natural and unique beauty”.

UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan wrote on X, ”Can someone please explain why this restriction on women visiting Band-e-Amir is necessary to comply with sharia and Afghan culture?”

In Afghanistan, women are also prohibited from leadership posts, banned from university and secondary education, and not allowed to work as well as travel unless accompanied by a male companion. Their entry has been banned in many public places, including restaurants, bathhouses, gyms, and parks.