Timeline: The Taliban’s Repressive Decrees

Timeline: The Taliban’s Repressive Decrees

This is how the Taliban has enforced scores of restrictions on various aspects of life in Afghanistan.

Limits imposed on:

Women

Freedom of religion

Entertainment

Men’s appearance

Other aspects of life

Restriction area:

Countrywide

Provincial

August 2021

Just days after seizing power, Taliban instructs women to stay at home and avoid travel.

08

09

10

September 2021

Many girls are banned from schools, women from all sports. Men are barred from shaving their beards.

11

12

2022

01

March 2022

Foreign TV series are banned. Norouz, pre-Islamic Persian New Year, is cancelled.

02

03

April 2022

Taliban bans TikTok and popular online game PUBG.

04

05

May 2022

All women are ordered to cover their faces in public by wearing an all-encompassing burqa or a niqab.

06

07

08

December 2022

Women are barred from attending all public and private universities. Taliban also bans local and foreign nongovernmental organizations from employing Afghan women.

09

10

11

12

January 2023

Taliban orders pharmacies not to sell contraceptives.

2023

01

February 2023

Female medical staff in Kabul are ordered to wear the hijab and face masks at all times.

02

03

April 2023

Video games, foreign films, and music are prohibited in Herat Province.

04

05

July 2023

Taliban bans women's beauty salons. All teacher-training centers are ordered to close.

06

07

Limits imposed on:

Women

Freedom of religion

Entertainment

Men’s appearance

Other aspects of life

Restriction area:

Countrywide

Provincial

August 2021

Just days after seizing power, Taliban instructs women to stay at home and avoid travel.

08

09

10

September 2021

Many girls are banned from schools, women from all sports. Men are barred from shaving their beards.

11

12

2022

March 2022

Foreign TV series are banned. Norouz, pre-Islamic Persian New Year, is cancelled.

01

02

03

April 2022

Taliban bans TikTok and popular online game PUBG.

04

05

May 2022

All women are ordered to cover their faces in public by wearing an all-encompassing burqa or a niqab.

06

07

08

December 2022

Women are barred from attending all public and private universities. Taliban also bans local and foreign nongovernmental organizations from employing Afghan women.

09

10

11

12

2023

January 2023

Taliban orders pharmacies not to sell contraceptives.

01

02

February 2023

Female medical staff in Kabul are ordered to wear the hijab and face masks at all times.

03

04

April 2023

Video games, foreign films, and music are prohibited in Herat Province.

05

06

07

July 2023

Taliban bans women's beauty salons. All teacher-training centers are ordered to close.

Limits imposed on:

Women

Freedom of religion

Entertainment

Men’s appearance

Other aspects of life

Restriction area:

Countrywide

Provincial

August 2021

Just days after seizing power, Taliban instructs women to stay at home and avoid travel.

08

09

10

September 2021

Many girls are banned from schools, women from all sports. Men are barred from shaving their beards.

11

12

2022

March 2022

Foreign TV series are banned. Norouz, pre-Islamic Persian New Year, is cancelled.

01

02

03

April 2022

Taliban bans TikTok and popular online game PUBG.

04

05

May 2022

All women are ordered to cover their faces in public by wearing an all-encompassing burqa or a niqab.

06

07

08

December 2022

Women are barred from attending all public and private universities. Taliban also bans local and foreign nongovernmental organizations from employing Afghan women.

09

10

11

12

2023

January 2023

Taliban orders pharmacies not to sell contraceptives.

01

02

February 2023

Female medical staff in Kabul are ordered to wear the hijab and face masks at all times.

03

04

05

April 2023

Video games, foreign films, and music are prohibited in Herat Province.

06

07

July 2023

Taliban bans women's beauty salons. All teacher-training centers are ordered to close.