Khama Press, November 22, 2023

Women’s tailoring banned in Herat, specialized women’s market closed in Balkh

Several markets, including all women’s clothing tailoring centres, have been closed as part of this inspection.

By Fidel Rahmati

Sources from Herat confirm that the Taliban administration has prohibited women’s tailoring in the central region of this province. Simultaneously, some media outlets have reported establishing a specialized women’s market in Balkh.

The source, who preferred not to be named in the report, informed Khama Press that Taliban forces entered the city Wednesday morning to inspect commercial markets. Several markets, including all women’s clothing tailoring centres, have been closed as part of this inspection.

The source added that over the past week, “whispers about the Taliban administration blocking women’s tailoring were heard, but no one believed that these warnings could become a reality.”

The exact number of tailoring shops that have been closed is not specified. It is worth noting that earlier this year, the Taliban had also banned women’s tailoring in Balkh province.

The Taliban has not provided any statement regarding this action so far. This contrasts with reports from some media outlets that indicate establishing a specialized women’s market in Balkh. It is noteworthy that at the beginning of November, the Taliban had imposed a ban on women’s tailoring in Balkh as well.

According to its sources in Mazar-e-Sharif, the daily newspaper “Ettelaat-e-Roz” reported that a women’s commercial market called “Khadija Kubra” has been closed due to tax liabilities.

This commercial market consists of around 200 shops for women, all managed by women. One of the women shopkeepers stated, “This market has been in debt for a long time; why should we suffer? The government should hold accountable those who have had outstanding debts.”

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