Women Barred from Entering Sakhi Shrine in Kabul Under Taliban Rule

Women Barred from Entering Sakhi Shrine in Kabul Under Taliban Rule
——————————
Local sources in Kabul, Afghanistan, report that women have been prohibited from entering the Sakhi Shrine, one of the city’s most prominent religious sites, by orders enforced by Taliban personnel.

According to eyewitness accounts, the restriction has been in effect for several days, with women being stopped at the shrine’s gates and not permitted to enter. Taliban forces reportedly cited reasons such as alleged failure to adhere to their prescribed dress code, concerns about mixed gender presence, and photography inside the complex as justification for the ban.

The Sakhi Shrine is a historic and widely visited mosque and shrine complex in western Kabul that has traditionally seen significant religious participation, including by women.
Local observers say the ban was implemented without prior public announcement, and security personnel are stationed around the site to enforce the order.

This move is seen as part of a broader pattern of restrictions on women’s access to public and religious spaces in Afghanistan under Taliban governance, though Taliban authorities have not issued an official statement on the specific ban or its expected duration.