Afghanistan: Taliban imposes ban on women's entry to famous Band-e-Amir national park

The Taliban government has imposed a ban on women entering the Band-e-Amir National Park located in Afghanistan's Bamiyan province.

This decision, issued by Afghanistan's acting minister of virtue and vice, Mohammad Khaled Hanafi, has stirred controversy and raised questions about gender equality and freedom of movement in the country.

Reasons cited for the ban

Minister Hanafi justified the ban by citing instances where women allegedly did not adhere to the hijab, a traditional Islamic dress code, while inside the park.

He called upon religious leaders and security agencies to enforce the prohibition until a resolution could be reached, reported the BBC.

It's important to note that Band-e-Amir holds great significance as Afghanistan's first national park, established in 2009.

This breathtaking natural wonder, characterised by a cluster of lakes with unique geological features, attracts numerous tourists, including families, making the ban a significant impediment to many who wish to experience its natural beauty.

Different perspectives on the ban

Minister Hanafi emphasised that visiting the park for sightseeing was not obligatory, as reported by Afghan agency Tolo News. Meanwhile, religious clerics in Bamiyan contended that the women who violated the hijab rules were not local residents but rather visitors from other regions. Sayed Nasrullah Waezi, the head of the Bamiyan Shia Ulema Council, highlighted this distinction.

International and local reactions

Internationally, the ban has garnered attention and condemnation. Afghan former MP Mariam Solaimankhil expressed her discontent through a poem shared on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, expressing hope for a future return. Fereshta Abbasi from Human Rights Watch criticised the ban, noting that it coincided with Women's Equality Day and viewed it as a blatant disrespect to Afghan women.