“Imprisoned in the Burqa” New Taliban Decree in Kandahar Worries Women Shopkeepers
- Ariahn Raya
- Sep 12
- 1 min read
In a new decree issued by Taliban officials in Kandahar province, all female street vendors and shopkeepers are required to wear the burqa (chadari) while working in the market. This order, which has recently been implemented, has sparked widespread reactions among women traders.
Many of these women say that wearing the burqa while working not only violates their personal freedom but also creates obstacles for daily activities and interaction with customers.
Zarghona, one of these women, told Zan News: “They have imprisoned us under the burqa. This is no longer shopkeeping, this is imprisonment.”
Despite these concerns, the Taliban have insisted on enforcing the decree, calling it part of “preserving Islamic values.”
Meanwhile, critics say this decision is part of an increasing trend of restricting women’s presence in public spaces and delivers a serious blow to families whose main breadwinners are women.
Social analysts, however, warn that such restrictions further distance women from economic and social activities and may lead to wider unemployment and poverty.
