The new rule, introduced this week, further cuts women out of an ever-shrinking public space. They are already banned from traveling without a male escort and are forced to wear a hijab or burqa whenever they leave the house. Secondary schools for girls have also been closed for more than a year across the country. “In the last 15 months, we have done everything we could to arrange and settle it – and even set the days,” said Mohammad Akif Sadeq Mohajir, a spokesman for the Ministry for the Prevention of Violence and the Promotion of Virtue. “But still, in some places – in fact, we should say in many places – the rules were broken,” he told AFP. “There was involvement [of men and women]the hijab was not observed, so the decision has been taken for now.” The news was met with dismay by women and park managers – who have invested heavily in developing the facilities. “There are no schools, there are no jobs… we should at least have a place to have fun,” said one woman, who asked to be identified only as Wahida, as she watched her children play in a park from the window of a nearby restaurant . . “We are just bored and tired of being at home all day, our minds are tired,” he told AFP. At the next table, Raihana, 21, who studies Islamic Law at the university, shared her frustration after arriving at the park to spend the day with her sisters. “We were very excited … we were sick of staying at home,” she said. “Obviously, in Islam, going out and visiting parks is allowed. When you don’t have freedom in your country, then what does it mean to live here?’ A few miles away, the Ferris wheel and most of the other rides at Zazai Park, which offers spectacular views of Kabul, were brought to a sudden halt due to a lack of business. Before this week’s ban, it could accommodate hundreds of visitors on days when women brought their children for family gatherings. On Fridays and public holidays, even more people flock to the park – one of the city’s few attractions. On Wednesday, only a few men casually wandered into the complex. Habib Jan Zazai, co-developer of the complex, fears he may have to close a business he has poured $11 million into and which employs more than 250 people. “Without women, children will not come by themselves,” he said. He feared that such decrees would discourage investment by foreigners or Afghans living abroad, as well as affect revenue collection. “A government is run by taxes. If an investor doesn’t pay tax, then how can he run?” Mohammad Tamim, 20, sipping tea in the park during a visit from Kandahar, where he teaches at a madrassa, called the ban “bad news”. “Every human being psychologically needs to be entertained,” he said. “Muslims should be entertained – especially after 20 years of war.”

title: “Taliban Ban Women From Parks And Festivals In Afghanistan S Capital Afghanistan " ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-28” author: “James Rodriguez”

The new rule, introduced this week, further cuts women out of an ever-shrinking public space. They are already banned from traveling without a male escort and are forced to wear a hijab or burqa whenever they leave the house. Secondary schools for girls have also been closed for more than a year across the country. “In the last 15 months, we have done everything we could to arrange and settle it – and even set the days,” said Mohammad Akif Sadeq Mohajir, a spokesman for the Ministry for the Prevention of Violence and the Promotion of Virtue. “But still, in some places – in fact, we should say in many places – the rules were broken,” he told AFP. “There was involvement [of men and women]the hijab was not observed, so the decision has been taken for now.” The news was met with dismay by women and park managers – who have invested heavily in developing the facilities. “There are no schools, there are no jobs… we should at least have a place to have fun,” said one woman, who asked to be identified only as Wahida, as she watched her children play in a park from the window of a nearby restaurant . . “We are just bored and tired of being at home all day, our minds are tired,” he told AFP. At the next table, Raihana, 21, who studies Islamic Law at the university, shared her frustration after arriving at the park to spend the day with her sisters. “We were very excited … we were sick of staying at home,” she said. “Obviously, in Islam, going out and visiting parks is allowed. When you don’t have freedom in your country, then what does it mean to live here?’ A few miles away, the Ferris wheel and most of the other rides at Zazai Park, which offers spectacular views of Kabul, were brought to a sudden halt due to a lack of business. Before this week’s ban, it could accommodate hundreds of visitors on days when women brought their children for family gatherings. On Fridays and public holidays, even more people flock to the park – one of the city’s few attractions. On Wednesday, only a few men casually wandered into the complex. Habib Jan Zazai, co-developer of the complex, fears he may have to close a business he has poured $11 million into and which employs more than 250 people. “Without women, children will not come by themselves,” he said. He feared that such decrees would discourage investment by foreigners or Afghans living abroad, as well as affect revenue collection. “A government is run by taxes. If an investor doesn’t pay tax, then how can he run?” Mohammad Tamim, 20, sipping tea in the park during a visit from Kandahar, where he teaches at a madrassa, called the ban “bad news”. “Every human being psychologically needs to be entertained,” he said. “Muslims should be entertained – especially after 20 years of war.”