With the omission of girls when calling male teachers and students back to school, and its previous request for female employees in some areas to stay at home, along with repeated hints that its members do not know how to deal with women (especially during protests), according to previous statements by its spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban tightens its old and new chains around women in Afghanistan after taking control of the country in mid-August.
Despite promises to respect women's rights to education and work according to their claim of "Sharia" teachings, the realities on the ground suggest otherwise.
**Dismissal of Female Employees**
In the latest steps restricting the rights of Afghan women, the acting head of the municipality of Kabul revealed that Taliban rulers have issued orders for the dismissal of many female municipality employees.
Hamidullah Namoni stated to reporters yesterday, according to the Associated Press, that only women who cannot be replaced by men will be allowed to attend work. He clarified that this includes skilled workers in design and engineering departments, in addition to those responsible for public women's restrooms.
However, he noted that the "final" decision regarding those employees in the municipality remains pending, but he indicated that their salaries would be withdrawn in the meantime.
**Concern About the Fate of Women**
These new measures from the group raise several questions about the fate of women in the country and their future under this new regime. These actions also recall the Taliban's previous rule in the 1990s when they banned girls and women from schools and jobs.
It is worth noting that before the Taliban took control of the country last month, just under one-third of municipality employees (3000) were women working in all departments.
