Taliban bans women from taking part in Eid ul-Fitr celebrations

The Taliban government in Afghanistan on Saturday ordered to ban women from attending Eid celebrations in two provinces of Afghanistan, the religious group's latest edict cracking down on women's rights and freedoms since they took power.

In a notification, it was stated that 'it is forbidden for women to go out in groups during the days of Eid ul-Fitr' in the Takhar in the northeast and the Baghlan province in the north. According to reports, the ban was enforced after religious scholars and members of the public complained about the mixing of genders in such spaces.

Afghanistan is celebrating Eid after the supreme court confirmed the sighting of Shawwal moon a day earlier.

Earlier this month, the Taliban authorities banned the entry of families and women in restaurants with gardens and green spaces in the Herat province of Afghanistan. The authorities said the curbs were imposed due to not wearing a headscarf (Hijab) and gender mixing.

Despite initially promising a more moderate rule respecting rights for women and minorities, the Taliban have widely implemented their interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia, since they seized power in August 2021.

In March last year, the Taliban barred girls from going to secondary schools. Women were also banned from public spaces like parks and gyms.

(with PTI inputs)