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Taliban Closes Underground Salons, 50,000 Beauticians Jobless

8/31/2025

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Summary

Story summary

The Taliban mandated the closure of underground beauty salons in Afghanistan, allowing one month for compliance.
Since the official salon ban in August 2023, over 50,000 female beauticians have lost their jobs.
Women in Afghanistan experience significant restrictions, including prohibitions on public employment and education, raising concerns of gender apartheid.

History

Historical Context

The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 aimed to dismantle the Taliban, notorious for their oppressive policies against women, including mandatory burqas and bans on education. After the U.S. withdrawal in 2021, the Taliban reinstated these restrictions, closing over 12,000 beauty salons and causing 50,000 job losses for women, echoing the gender apartheid of the 1990s and underscoring the ongoing struggle for women's rights in Afghanistan.

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Story summary

The Taliban mandated the closure of underground beauty salons in Afghanistan, allowing one month for compliance.
Since the official salon ban in August 2023, over 50,000 female beauticians have lost their jobs.
Women in Afghanistan experience significant restrictions, including prohibitions on public employment and education, raising concerns of gender apartheid.

1 / 2