Khaberni - Taliban forces in Helmand province, last Sunday, arrested a young girl named Nooria for working in men's clothing. In a widely circulated video clip, Nooria explained that she became the sole breadwinner for her family after her father's death, and the extreme poverty and lack of any source of income drove her to work in a cafe for three years disguised in men's clothing under the alias "Noor Ahmad".
Nooria said that this job was the only way to secure the basic needs of her family, and she tried to hide her true identity as much as possible, but was eventually discovered and arrested. Her case has sparked widespread reactions on social media, and has brought attention back to the difficult reality Afghan women face in terms of the right to work.
This incident comes amidst strict restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women since their return to power, where women's work in most government institutions and many private sectors has been banned, including restrictions on non-governmental organizations, media, and some service fields. As a result, thousands of women have lost their jobs, and many families have been deprived of their main source of income.
These restrictions are not limited to the field of work alone, but also extend to preventing girls from education in secondary and university levels, imposing strict restrictions on women's movements and their presence in public spaces. These policies have placed many women, especially those who are family breadwinners, in front of harsh choices, between extreme poverty or working undercover and under great risks.
Nooria's case clearly illustrates the humanitarian and social repercussions of these policies, which not only deprive women of their basic rights but also expose them to arrest, punishment, and complete exclusion from public life.
