After barring women from universities, Afghanistan's Taliban-led government ordered all local and foreign NGOs...
Digital Desk: The Taliban rulers instructed local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Afghanistan on Saturday to prohibit female employees from reporting to work "until further notice."
According to a letter from the economy ministry's spokesperson, Abdulrahman Habib, female employees of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are not allowed to work until further notice because some of the organisations are not adhering to a mandatory Islamic hijab or dress code for their female staff, as instructed by the Taliban administration.
This comes only days after the administration declared a ban on women attending universities, sparking international outrage.
Both choices are capable of damaging the Taliban-led administration's efforts to secure international recognition and unambiguous sanctions, both of which are severely limiting the economy.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed regret on Twitter "very disturbed" and the measure "would disrupt essential and life-saving assistance to millions," adding: "Women are central to humanitarian operations around the world. This action could have disastrous consequences for the Afghan people."
According to Ramiz Alakbarov, the UN deputy special representative for Afghanistan and humanitarian coordinator, contracted NGOs carried out the majority of the organization's activities, and "many of the UN's programmes will be affected," because they require female staff to assess humanitarian needs and identify beneficiaries.
As per aid groups, the potential endangerment of aid programmes that millions of Afghans rely on occurs when more than half of the population relies on humanitarian aid.
"There is never a suitable time for something like this... but this particular time is really bad because people are most in need during the winter, and Afghan winters are very severe," Alakbarov added.
On Sunday, he said his office would speak with NGOs and UN organisations before seeking an answer from Taliban officials.
Female workers are critical in a country where legislation and cultural norms prohibit male workers from delivering aid to female recipients.
The letter, according to Habib, was sent to organisations affiliated with Afghanistan's coordinating body for humanitarian organisations, known as ACBAR. This entity does not include the UN, but it does contain over 180 local and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs). If they did not comply, their licences would be suspended.
In Kabul, women demonstrated against the Taliban's rule prohibiting female students from pursuing higher education. Protesters asked that women have equal access to education and employment.
Taliban troops stationed outside four Kabul institutions barred women from entering while allowing others to enter and complete their job. They also attempted to prevent any photography, filming, or protests from occurring.
On Wednesday morning, activists from the Unity and Solidarity of Afghanistan Women gathered outside Kabul's private Edrak University, screaming slogans in Dari. According to images from the demonstration scene, Taliban gunmen shot water canons at the protesters.
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