The Taliban’s recent crackdown on women’s rights marks a significant setback for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, whose decision to invite the Taliban to June’s Doha talks was met with strong opposition from global human rights organizations. Despite widespread protests, Guterres extended the invitation, perhaps hoping that recognizing the Taliban as the de facto rulers of Afghanistan might inspire them to show leniency toward Afghan women. However, the Taliban’s response has been a sharp rebuke, with new, oppressive laws intensifying their control over women’s lives.

In August, the Taliban published a 114-page “Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice,” a draconian legal document that imposes extreme restrictions on women’s mobility and public appearance. Women are required to cover their entire bodies in thick garments, including their faces, to prevent what the Taliban describes as “tempting” men into immoral behavior. The law also silences women, prohibiting them from speaking in public or even being heard in private, including reading aloud or singing within their homes. These restrictions not only violate women’s basic rights but also represent a broader societal regression, pushing Afghanistan further into the shadows of repression.

Men, too, face new rules mandating modesty, but the brunt of the repression remains focused on women. Women are forbidden from making eye contact with unrelated men and cannot leave home without a male relative. Taxi drivers are penalized for transporting unaccompanied women. This obsessive policing of women’s bodies and voices underscores the Taliban’s aim to erase women from public life, effectively silencing half the population.

The consequences of these laws go beyond Afghanistan’s borders, frustrating the UN’s diplomatic efforts to foster a more inclusive and peaceful nation. Guterres’ attempts to engage with the Taliban have been undermined by the group’s deliberate disdain for international human rights standards, particularly those concerning women. Global human rights organizations have voiced their disillusionment with the Taliban, condemning the regime’s treatment of women. The ongoing repression also exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, creating additional obstacles to the UN’s mission of promoting peace and justice.

Despite widespread condemnation, the Taliban remains steadfast, continuing to deflect international criticism. In a recent statement, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid urged non-Muslim nations to “educate themselves about Islamic laws” before raising objections, framing external criticism as a misunderstanding of religious values. This rhetoric allows the Taliban to deflect criticism while positioning their rigid interpretation of Sharia as immune to foreign influence. Mujahid’s remarks highlight the Taliban’s strategy of portraying objections to their policies as culturally insensitive or even blasphemous.

When the Taliban returned to power in 2021, some held out hope for a more moderate regime—a “Taliban 2.0” that might respect women’s rights. Such hopes were quickly dashed. During their previous rule from 1996 to 2001, the Taliban enforced brutal punishments, including public executions, floggings, and stonings, with women facing the harshest repression. Despite this dark history, the international community appeared eager to engage with the Taliban in hopes of achieving stability. Yet, since regaining power, the Taliban has remained committed to its oppressive roots. Women and girls have been banned from education beyond sixth grade, and most forms of employment and public participation are off-limits.

Afghan women have been forced into near invisibility, but their resilience remains strong. Many are quietly resisting through underground education networks, digital activism, and other small acts of defiance. Their courage in the face of repression is vital to the ongoing struggle for women’s rights in Afghanistan.

The Taliban’s resistance to international pressure is partly rooted in their ideological commitment to their version of governance, which often conflicts with the expectations of international donors. They view compliance with these demands as a threat to their self-rule. Additionally, the Taliban have developed alternative financial networks, including black market economies and regional partnerships, providing them with a degree of financial independence. This autonomy allows them to resist external pressure, even in the face of Afghanistan’s mounting humanitarian crisis.

As the Taliban tightens its grip, the international community faces a delicate challenge: how to respect cultural sensitivities while defending basic human rights. The road ahead will require renewed diplomatic efforts and unwavering solidarity with Afghan women, who continue to fight for their rights and dignity under an increasingly oppressive regime.