New ban on Afghan women.

Taliban authorities have ordered national and international non-governmental organizations to stop working with women after "serious complaints" that they did not follow an appropriate dress code, the economy ministry told AFP.

"There have been serious complaints about non-compliance with the Islamic hijab and other rules and regulations relating to women's work in national and international organizations," said the ministry responsible for approving licenses for NGOs operating in Afghanistan in a letter obtained by AFP.

A ministry spokesperson confirmed that the Ministry of Economy sent the order to the NGOs.

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A ministry spokesperson confirmed that the Ministry of Economy sent the order to the NGOs.

"In case of neglect of the directive (...) the license of the organization which was issued by this ministry will be canceled", specifies the mail.

Banned from universities

The announcement comes just four days after the Taliban government decided to ban Afghan women from attending public and private universities in the country for an indefinite period.

The Minister of Higher Education, Neda Mohammad Nadeem, explained in a television interview that he took this decision because "students who went to university (...) did not respect the instructions on the hijab".

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"The hijab is obligatory in Islam," he insisted, referring to the requirement for women in Afghanistan to cover their faces and their entire bodies.

Despite their promises to be more flexible, the Taliban have returned to the ultra-rigorous interpretation of Islam that marked their first spell in power (1996-2001).

Since their return to power in August 2021, draconian measures have multiplied, in particular against women who have been gradually excluded from public life and excluded from colleges and high schools.

With AFP 

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