The Taliban have said women should not leave the house without their husband’s permission, warning that the devil lies in wait when a woman ventures outside.
The advice, issued by the Taliban’s Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs on August 6, also states that women have a religious obligation to obey and serve their husbands.
The Taliban have told imams to share the new guidance – entitled “The Importance and Necessity of Protecting the Family System” – at Friday prayers.
“Whenever (a woman) leaves her home, Satan turns his attention towards her and lies in wait for her,” it says.
“Among a husband’s rights is the right to keep his wife at home; in other words, a woman is prohibited from going out and appearing in public.”
In its statement, the ministry describes a woman as “awrah” – a term which usually refers to the parts of the body that are private and must be concealed. The Taliban have previously referred to a woman’s voice as “awrah” and have said women should not speak in public.
The Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs also recognises polygamy in its guidance, saying that men with more than one wife should “treat their wives justly”.
The Taliban have issued scores of orders restricting women’s rights and freedoms since seizing power in 2021.
Women already have to wear a face covering when leaving home, must often be accompanied by a male guardian, and are banned from parks and other recreational spaces.
The latest guidance also instructs women to be patient in the face of poverty – which has escalated in recent years – and not discuss their family’s financial problems with others.
