The closure of beauty salons is already in force and Afghans lose one of their last spaces of freedom

2023-07-25 21:30:18

These establishments were often the only resource for their families and constituted one of the few places of socialization for the women.

Thousands of beauty salons they closed permanently this Tuesday in Afghanistan with the entry into force of a decree by the Taliban authorities, which deprives women of one of their few sources of income and one of their last spaces of freedom.

Since their return to power in August 2021, the Muslim fundamentalist Taliban have excluded women from most secondary schools, universities and public administration despite having committed to the international community to uphold the rights of Afghans.

Women they can’t work either for international organizationsaccess parks, gardens, gyms or public bathrooms or travel without being accompanied by a male relative. They must also fully cover themselves when leaving home.

An Afghan woman walks past a closed hair salon. Photo: Wakil Koshar / AFP

The decision to close beauty salons, announced by decree at the end of June, means the disappearance of thousands of businesses run by women. These establishments were often the only resource for their families and constituted one of the last spaces of freedom and socialization for Afghans.

“We used to come here and spend time to talk about our future. Now, even that right has been taken away from us,” said Bahara, a client of a Kabul beauty salon.

“Women do not have the right to enter places of entertainment. What can we do? Where can we have fun? Where we can meet?“, he added.

A man removes curtains from a beauty salon in Kabul. Photo: Wakil Koshar / AFP

The ban on beauty salons will lose their income to some 60,000 women who work in 12,000 establishments, according to the Afghan Chamber of Commerce and Industry for Women.

This Tuesday, many halls in Kabul they had already closed their doorswhile others waited until the last minute to do so.

An owner said that she was forced to sign a letter saying that she was closing her establishment of one’s own free will and relinquished his license to manage it.

The ban on beauty salons will lose their income to some 60,000 women who work in 12,000 establishments. Photo: Wakil Koshar / AFP

“It was a horrible scene: They arrived with military vehicles and rifles“, he declared, without revealing his identity. “What can a woman do in the face of so much insistence and pressure?

Last week, security forces fired into the air and used water cannons to disperse ddozens of Afghans who demonstrated in Kabul against that decree.

By confirming the measure days after the promulgation of the decree, the Ministry of Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue He specified that the salons had a month until Tuesday to close their doors.

A closed beauty salon in Kabul. Photo: Wakil Koshar / AFP

The argument to close them

The ministry justified the closure of the salons by claiming that people spend some extravagant sums for weddings, which he considered too heavy a burden for poor families, and stating that some of the services offered They did not abide by Islamic law.

Wearing makeup prevented women from properly performing their ablutions before prayer, the ministry had said. The false eyelashes and braids They were also banned.

Beauty salons proliferated in Kabul and large Afghan cities during the 20-year occupation by US forces. Photo: AP

A written copy of the decree seen by AFP indicates that the decision was based on a “verbal instruction from the paramount chief” of Afghanistan, Hibatullah Akhundzada.

Beauty salons proliferated in Kabul and large Afghan cities during the 20 years of occupation US and NATO forces.

AFP

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