Taliban Morality Police Arrest Dozens of Afghan Women, Sparking Rare June Protest
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 21
Taliban Morality Police Arrest Dozens of Afghan Women, Sparking Rare June Protest
2 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 21
Summary
Dozens of Afghan women were harassed and arrested by Taliban morality police in June, triggering a rare public protest against tightening restrictions on women’s lives and work.
More than 10,000 women now hold business licenses—up tenfold in five years—and another 120,000 are estimated to work without licenses, making small businesses a crucial outlet under Taliban rule.
That limited opening comes with severe constraints: women cannot work in government or many nonprofits, run beauty salons, study nursing or midwifery, or deal directly with male clients, suppliers or bankers.
Less than 7% of Afghan women were employed as of 2024, underscoring how the Taliban’s tolerance for women-led businesses has not reversed a broader collapse in education, careers and public participation.
How are Afghan women launching businesses when they're banned from banks, male clients, and even leaving home alone?
As women become vital breadwinners, can their economic power actually crack the Taliban's misogynistic ideology?
Afghan Women Under Taliban Rule: 2025–2026 Crackdown Intensifies as Over 10,000 Women Sustain Businesses Despite Systemic Repression
Overview
In the lead-up to June 2026, the Taliban intensified their systemic repression of women, highlighted by a major crackdown in Herat. On June 9, 2026, peaceful protests erupted in the city, with women demanding education, work, and freedom. Authorities responded with excessive force, drawing international concern. UN officials and Human Rights Watch condemned the violence and arbitrary arrests, urging accountability and the release of those detained. These actions have heightened fear among Afghan women and girls, reflecting a broader pattern of escalating restrictions and suppression of basic rights under Taliban rule.