Taliban requires female employees to carry ‘mahram card’ in Kandahar

Taliban requires female employees to carry ‘mahram card’ in Kandahar
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The Taliban have introduced a new mandate requiring female employees in Kandahar province to obtain official documentation identifying a male guardian, or mahram, who must accompany them to their workplace, Amu TV reported. This policy, enforced by the Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, applies to women working in both public and private sectors.

The new rule mandates that women carry a “mahram card” certifying the presence and identity of an approved male escort—usually a husband, father, brother, or son—during working hours. Female employees have reported that failure to comply will result in denial of entry to their workplace. In many cases, the male guardian is expected to remain at the office or work site throughout the day.

One woman, speaking anonymously due to fear of retaliation, described the mandate as creating “enormous challenges,” noting that many families cannot afford to have a male relative stay with a woman at work all day.

Obtaining the mahram card involves a multi-step process taking up to three days, requiring approval from several authorities, including the provincial virtue ministry director, a local council representative, a security official, and the woman’s employer. The card includes detailed personal information about both the employee and her designated guardian.

Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, they have imposed extensive restrictions on women’s rights, including bans on secondary and higher education, most employment, and severe limitations on freedom of movement. International organizations have condemned these policies as systematic gender persecution.