The UN Women section has recently stated that despite the restrictions imposed by the de facto authorities, Afghan women and girl entrepreneurs are expanding their businesses. In a report released today (Tuesday, September 22), the organization said that women and girl entrepreneurs in Afghanistan are growing their activities in export markets in South Asia and the Gulf region. UN Women further emphasized: “Despite increasing restrictions and economic instability, Afghan women and girl entrepreneurs, through resilience, vision, and determination, are seizing regional trade opportunities and continuing to grow their businesses.” A 32-year-old entrepreneur from Herat told UN Women: “I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to represent my business in another country. It wasn’t just about selling products; it was proof that Afghan women can thrive anywhere.” According to the report, this woman manages the Afghan food industry company “Chashni,” which was established after the return of the de facto authorities to power and is engaged in the production of saffron and food spices. She further added: “We purchase one kilogram of high-quality saffron from Herat farmers for up to 97,000 Afghanis and sell it for around 120,000 Afghanis.” The UN Women report also noted that due to shrinking employment opportunities, many women and girls are seeking alternative ways to sustain their livelihoods. Meanwhile, since their return to power, the de facto authorities have imposed sweeping restrictions on women’s work and activities outside the home, virtually depriving them of social life. They have also banned women and girls from education. In their latest restriction, they closed medical institutes to female students, even as Afghanistan’s health sector faces a shortage of personnel. This move has left millions of schoolgirls deprived of education. In addition, women have been barred from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in national and international NGOs as well as UN offices in Afghanistan.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently warned that the increase in heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory problems among Afghan women is alarming. In a report published on Monday (September 22), the organization stated that breast cancer and cervical cancer are among the most common cancers among Afghan women, and that cardiovascular diseases alone claim the lives of more than 40,000 people in Afghanistan each year. WHO expressed concern, emphasizing that most patients only seek treatment at advanced stages, when the effectiveness of treatment is significantly reduced. The organization also noted that more than half of the families returning from Iran and Pakistan are facing psychological disorders. It added that mental illness is a “silent killer” among Afghan citizens. According to the report, one in five Afghans suffers from a mental health problem, and in the past year, more than half of the returning families struggled with conditions such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Nevertheless, provincial hospitals and primary care services still lack mental health support, leaving many of the country’s vulnerable populations without care. Edwin Ceniza Salvador, WHO Representative in Afghanistan, said: “Across Afghanistan, millions live with the daily burden of chronic diseases and mental health challenges—an issue that places enormous pressure on a fragile health system.” The organization had previously warned about the rise of malaria in the country as well.

The Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) has recently announced that 92% of female journalists in the country have been forced to alter or censor their reports. In a report published on Monday, September 22, AMSO stated that 80% of journalists received no support over the past year. The organization further emphasized that half of the journalists in the country have lost hope of continuing their work in the coming year. According to the report, only 6.9% of female journalists are currently allowed to work in Afghanistan. AMSO also noted that 55% of journalists have been threatened, while another 15% have received threats through their media outlets. The report added that 55.4% of journalists have lost their jobs, 50.5% have been forced to censor their reports, 46% of female journalists were not allowed to interview men, and 23% said they were compelled to have a male guardian present while working. AMSO said that these statistics were gathered through a survey conducted among female journalists during July and August. It should be noted that since the takeover of Afghanistan by the interim government, a large number of media outlets have shut down, and thousands of journalists—especially women—have lost their jobs or been forced to leave the country due to security concerns. The interim government has gradually increased restrictions on the media and journalists, particularly female journalists. In some provinces, live broadcasting has been banned, leading to the closure of several local television stations.

Human Rights Watch has expressed concern over the continued ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan, calling the situation “cruel, harmful, and unlawful.” The organization stated that by closing the doors of schools to girls from the age of 12, the de facto authorities have effectively destroyed the dreams and opportunities of millions of children and pushed the country into a deeper cycle of poverty and inequality. Sahar Fetrat, a women’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch, stressed that this ban has not only trapped girls but has also plunged Afghan society as a whole into crisis, eliminating the possibility of building a healthier and more just community. The article states: “Without education, girls are pushed into early marriage, deprived of job opportunities, and unable to shape their own futures. This ban silences the voices of Afghan girls, steals their hopes, and crushes their imagination and potential.” It further notes that this action has not only destroyed the dreams of millions of girls but has also entrenched Afghan society in a deeper cycle of inequality, poverty, and entrenched oppression. Sahar Fetrat also criticized the global community’s response, saying that the world has not done enough to protect Afghan girls’ education. The inability or unwillingness of governments to act sends the message that Afghan children do not matter or are somehow second-class. Human Rights Watch, referring to the global stance on the situation of Afghan women and girls—particularly in education—emphasized: “This silence in the face of such injustice only empowers oppressors and normalizes inequality.” In part of the article, Sahar Fetrat wrote that education is not a privilege but a right for everyone, including Afghan girls. These reactions come as Afghanistan marks the fourth year since the closure of girls’ schools. In August 2021, when the de facto authorities took power, they issued a decree banning education for girls beyond grade six.

The Ministry of Education of the caretaker government has recently announced that 51 lesson titles from several school subjects, ranging from grade one to grade twelve, have been removed. According to the ministry, these titles have been eliminated from Dari, Pashto, Social Studies, and English subjects, and their teaching in schools is now prohibited. In a letter obtained by the media, it is emphasized that these lessons were deemed contrary to “religious teachings, the policy of the Islamic Emirate, and educational standards.” The letter states that lessons on the national flag, Teacher’s Day, mother, women’s rights in society, human rights, humanitarianism, Red Flower Festival, the Bamiyan Buddhas, folk customs and songs, the caliphate of Imam Ali, and several other topics have been removed from textbooks. The ministry also added in the letter that it is reviewing scientific subjects in schools as well, and if any material is found to be against “religious teachings, the policy of the Islamic Emirate, and educational standards,” they will also be removed. It is worth noting that the Ministry of Education of the caretaker government had previously announced several times that it would bring changes, remove, and replace certain lesson titles in primary school subjects. These 51 lesson titles are being removed at a time when the current government, since taking control of Afghanistan, has deprived women and girls of education. In its latest restriction, the government closed the doors of medical institutes to female students, even though Afghanistan’s health sector faces a shortage of personnel. This action by the current government has left millions of schoolgirls without access to education. In addition, women have also been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international NGOs, as well as even at United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

James Kariuki, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, stated that Afghanistan cannot succeed without the presence of women and girls, and the interim government must immediately lift the restrictions imposed on them. Mr. Kariuki made these remarks on Wednesday, September 25, at a UN Security Council meeting. He described reports that the current authorities are preventing female staff members from entering UN offices as concerning and called for their reversal. The UK representative to the UN also expressed condolences to the victims of the recent earthquakes and announced that his country has allocated more than four million dollars in new assistance for earthquake relief, bringing its total contribution to over five million dollars. Britain warned that the threat of drought and rising malnutrition in Afghanistan is serious, and more aid must be provided to ensure people—especially those in remote areas—do not face hunger during the winter. While James Kariuki emphasized the importance of upholding the rights of Afghan women and girls, the current government has, since taking power, deprived them of education and schooling. In its most recent restriction, it closed the doors of medical institutes to female students, despite Afghanistan’s healthcare sector facing a shortage of personnel. This move has deprived millions of girls from receiving an education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in both domestic and international NGOs—even in UN offices in Afghanistan.

Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund in Afghanistan, expressed concern over the growing mental health problems and early marriages among girls, saying that millions of girls are experiencing the devastating effects of restrictions. UNICEF reported today (Wednesday, September 17) quoting Russell, that by the end of this year, more than 2.2 million girls will remain deprived of schooling, while millions more continue to suffer from the harmful impacts of the current government’s restrictions. She further stressed that the return of Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistan has added to the number of girls deprived of education. The UNICEF Executive Director added: “While millions of children around the world are returning to classrooms this month to begin a new school year, Afghan girls are denied this fundamental right. This is one of the defining injustices of our time.” She emphasized that girls in Afghanistan are deprived not only of education but also of social connection, personal growth, opportunities to shape their future, and the chance to fulfill their potential. Russell further warned: “This ban is a profound threat to the country’s stability and long-term progress. No nation can thrive when half of its population is left behind. If Afghanistan is to move forward, it needs the full participation of both women and men to drive a stronger workforce, boost economic growth, and meet the needs of a growing nation.” She added: “UNICEF urgently calls on the de facto authorities to lift this devastating ban and allow every girl in Afghanistan to attend school, from grade six and beyond.” It has been four years since Afghan girls have been barred from attending schools and universities by the current government. This policy has left millions of school-aged girls deprived of education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international NGOs as well as United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

Haji Zaid, spokesperson for the governor of Balkh, announced in the latest development that the use of fiber optic internet has been banned in the province by the order of Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the caretaker government, in order to “prevent immorality.” In a message posted on his X account, Mr. Zaid wrote that from now on, fiber optic internet will no longer be used to “prevent immorality” and that they are seeking alternatives. At least two sources in Mazar-e-Sharif told Gohrshad Media that fiber optic internet has been cut off across Balkh province for several days. The source stressed that Afghan Telecom’s wired internet services as well as all other internet providers have been shut down, but mobile internet remains active. The source added that this disruption has affected online government services, banking operations, distance education, and normal business activities. Currently, Afghanistan is connected to high-bandwidth internet through fiber optic cables linking it to five neighboring countries. The former government had invested 150 million dollars in the fiber optic project. Consequences of Cutting Fiber Optic Internet With the shutdown of fiber optic internet, access to high-speed internet in Afghanistan becomes very limited. Households, government offices, and companies can no longer use fast internet, leaving only low-speed mobile internet available. This cutoff will also bring serious economic and social consequences. Foreign investment will decline, connections with global markets will be restricted, and people—especially school students and university students—will be deprived of access to online education and information. Fiber optic internet transmits data not through electricity but by using light beams inside glass cables. For this reason, its speed and stability are much higher than ordinary internet. Extremely high data transfer speed, greater stability compared to mobile internet, and high capacity for transmitting large volumes of information are key features of fiber optic internet.

The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice of the caretaker government has recently launched the process of administering religious exams for teachers and staff of schools. This ministry has instructed the Ministry of Education to test teachers and staff of the provincial education departments on the curriculum that has been taught. According to the letter from the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice of the current government, the process of administering the exams began on September 9. Several teachers from Herat province told Goharshad media that for the past week the provincial education department has been conducting religious exams for teachers and school employees. They said that the Ministry of Education intends to use these exams to determine the religious proficiency of teachers and administrative staff of schools. One teacher stated that the exam is being taken from books and booklets that had previously been distributed to teachers and administrative employees. The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, in this letter, has ordered that religious exams be administered twice a year for employees of government offices. The current government is also providing religious training to employees in the ministries. The caretaker government has established “Departments of Invitation and Guidance” within ministries and independent directorates, and this structure has also been added to secondary-level offices. The current government had previously conducted religious exams for ministry employees as well.

Richard Bennett, the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, has recently stated that the de facto authorities must lift the restrictions imposed on female UN staff. On Friday, September 12, Bennett posted a message on his X account, calling for the removal of restrictions against female UN employees at the “national level.” He further emphasized: “Preventing women from accessing their workplaces or supporting vulnerable communities is yet another indication that the Taliban should not be normalized unless and until they change course.” He added: “I strongly echo UNAMA and call on the current authorities to lift the restrictions imposed on female staff at the national level.” The United Nations in Afghanistan has also issued a statement calling for the de facto authorities to lift the restrictions against female UN employees. The UN stated that on September 7 this year, government forces barred female UN employees and contractors from entering the organization’s offices in Kabul. UNAMA clarified that this restriction was later expanded to UN field offices across the country and enforced through written or verbal notices from the current authorities. The UN added that government forces have been stationed at the entrances of UN offices in Kabul, Herat, and Mazar-i-Sharif to prevent female staff from entering UN facilities. The organization said: “This is particularly concerning given the ongoing restrictions on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.” The United Nations in Afghanistan noted that these restrictions violate international laws regarding the immunities and privileges of UN staff and stressed that efforts are underway to have them lifted as soon as possible. Since taking power, the current authorities have also banned women and girls from education. In their latest restriction, they closed the doors of medical institutes to female students, despite the severe shortage of healthcare personnel in Afghanistan. This action has deprived millions of schoolgirls of education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in both domestic and international NGOs, as well as in UN offices in Afghanistan.