Amu: Once a pillar of the local economy in the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, the carpentry trade is now faltering under the weight of economic decline, dwindling demand, and a collapse in construction activity, according to local craftsmen. Carpenters in Mazar-e-Sharif say their businesses have slowed to a crawl as customers vanish and new building
Tolo News: Carpet sellers in Herat have called on the interim government to not only prevent the smuggling of Afghan handwoven carpets to neighboring countries but also to facilitate their export under Afghanistan’s name. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan International: The Taliban’s morality police have banned women from praying in mosques in Kandahar and Herat, sources told Afghanistan International. On Monday night, during evening prayers, the Taliban expelled women from several mosques in Kandahar. Women in Herat also reported that since the start of Ramadan, the Taliban have blocked their access to mosques.
Amu: According to the sources, Taliban officials visited the Islam Qala center in Herat on Saturday afternoon (February 8) and warned male employees that shaving or trimming their beards would result in imprisonment. This directive follows previous bans on beard trimming in government institutions and academic environments, reflecting the Taliban’s continued enforcement of strict social
8am: Following the Taliban’s announcement that the construction of the Pashdan Dam in Herat is 80% complete and will soon become operational, a wave of criticism emerged from the Islamic Republic of Iran. Eisa Bozorgzadeh, spokesperson for Iran’s water industry, stated that this dam would severely affect the drinking water supply for millions of Iranians
Afghanistan International: Issa Bozorgzadeh, the spokesman for the Islamic Republic’s water industry, said that Afghanistan’s “unilateral” exploitation of the Harirud River is a violation of Iran’s customary rights. Bozorgzadeh said that the construction of the Pashdan Dam will affect the supply of drinking water to several million people. Click here to read more (external link).
Afghanistan International: Rahmatullah Jaber, the Taliban’s education chief in Herat, announced in a letter that girls’ education above the sixth grade in private education centres is prohibited. The Taliban official said that girls’ education above the sixth grade is prohibited by Mullah Hibatullah’s decree until “further notice”. Click here to read more (external link).
Amu: A group of women and girls staged a protest outside the Taliban governor’s office in the western province of Herat on Thursday, decrying the recent ban on female participation in medical education. Chanting slogans like “education is justice and learning,” the demonstrators described the directive as oppressive and a blow to their basic rights.
Amu: Now, the owners say they have lost everything. “We invested everything we had into these businesses, but the Taliban has taken it all away,” one cafe owner said. “If the closures are permanent, I will have no money left to secure my future.” The closure of the cafes follows a broader crackdown on women’s
Amu: The Taliban have started shutting down women-only cafes in Herat Province in western Afghanistan, further eroding the few remaining spaces where women can gather freely under their restrictive rule. In the past week, at least three such cafes have been forced to close, with the Taliban’s morality police warning the owners of two others