Taliban forces closure of women's beauty salons in Afghanistan

The Taliban have ordered hair and beauty salons in Afghanistan to shut down, adding to the growing list of restrictions faced by women in the country. This comes as part of a series of measures imposed by the Taliban since they seized power in 2021, including barring women from classrooms, gyms, and parks, and banning them from working for the United Nations. Women are also required to dress in a way that only reveals their eyes and must be accompanied by a male relative when traveling more than 72km. The closure of beauty salons was a common practice during the Taliban's previous rule from 1996 to 2001 but had reopened after the US-led invasion. The Taliban government has not provided any explanation for the ban or offered alternatives for women.