The Taliban beauty salon ban Kabul has sparked outrage both locally and internationally. In a move reported by Tolo News, the Taliban have ordered the mass shutdown of womenβs beauty salons in the Afghan capital, paralyzing hundreds of establishments.
Many salon owners say their equipment has been confiscated or destroyed, while an estimated 60,000 women have lost their jobs. This decision not only erases a vital source of income for Afghan women but also further restricts their already limited freedoms.
Taliban Beauty Salon Ban Kabul: A Major Setback for Women
The Taliban beauty salon ban Kabul has triggered widespread concern among human rights advocates and the international community. According to Tolo News, the Taliban have ordered the closure of hundreds of womenβs beauty salons across the capital. In many cases, the equipment inside these salons has been confiscated or destroyed, leaving owners devastated.
Beauty salons were among the very few safe spaces where Afghan women could work and earn an income. The ban affects an estimated 60,000 female workers in Kabul alone, stripping them of both economic independence and a professional identity.
Economic and Social Consequences
The Taliban beauty salon ban Kabul not only eliminates a source of livelihood for thousands but also harms the broader economy. These salons contributed significantly to the local market by supporting suppliers of cosmetics, hair products, and beauty equipment. Their closure will cause ripple effects for related businesses, increasing unemployment even further.
From a social perspective, beauty salons offered women a rare space for community and connection in an environment where their mobility is already heavily restricted. This ban removes one of the last remaining avenues for women to gather without fear.
International Condemnation
Global organizations and activists have condemned the Taliban beauty salon ban Kabul as a violation of womenβs rights and personal freedoms. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have implemented policies that bar women from higher education, most public-sector jobs, and now even private-sector roles such as salon work.
International pressure is mounting for the Taliban to reverse these regressive measures. However, for the tens of thousands of women now without work, the damage is already severe and immediate.
