Women in Afghanistan must cover their faces, ideally wearing their traditional burqa when out in public in accordance with a decree issued by the Taliban on Saturday, May 7.

The statement from the General Directorate of Administrative Affairs also directs that the women must only leave their houses if necessary failure to which her male guardian will be visited and advised, and eventually jailed and sentenced.

Similarly, women who work in government offices and do not follow the new rules will be fired.

Quarters such as the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres responded to the decree urging the Taliban to fulfill their promises to Afghan women and girls and their obligations under international human rights law.

"I'm alarmed by today's announcement,  I once again urge the Taliban to keep promises to Afghan women and girls, and their obligations under international human rights law,” she stated.

The Taliban have always attracted criticism for restricting women's rights and freedoms in the public. In December 2021, they banned women from taking long-distance road trips in Afghanistan on their own, requiring that a male relative must accompany them for any distance beyond 72 kilometres.

The rule had also called on drivers not to allow women without veils to sit in their cars, sparking mixed reactions from members of the public and even the entire world.

"The Taliban cannot erase us, they can't. This is not like the 1990s or before they have to accept women. They have no other choice,” former Afghan politician and women's rights activist Zarifa Ghafar stated.