Timeline: The Taliban’s Repressive Decrees
This is how the Taliban has enforced scores of restrictions on various aspects of life in Afghanistan.
Limits imposed on:
Women
Freedom of religion
Entertainment
Men’s appearance
Other aspects of life
Restriction area:
Countrywide
Provincial
August 2021
Just days after seizing power, Taliban instructs women to stay at home and avoid travel.
08
09
10
September 2021
Many girls are banned from schools, women from all sports. Men are barred from shaving their beards.
11
12
2022
01
March 2022
Foreign TV series are banned. Norouz, pre-Islamic Persian New Year, is cancelled.
02
03
April 2022
Taliban bans TikTok and popular online game PUBG.
04
05
May 2022
All women are ordered to cover their faces in public by wearing an all-encompassing burqa or a niqab.
06
07
08
December 2022
Women are barred from attending all public and private universities. Taliban also bans local and foreign nongovernmental organizations from employing Afghan women.
09
10
11
12
January 2023
Taliban orders pharmacies not to sell contraceptives.
2023
01
February 2023
Female medical staff in Kabul are ordered to wear the hijab and face masks at all times.
02
03
April 2023
Video games, foreign films, and music are prohibited in Herat Province.
04
05
July 2023
Taliban bans women's beauty salons. All teacher-training centers are ordered to close.
06
07
Limits imposed on:
Women
Freedom of religion
Entertainment
Men’s appearance
Other aspects of life
Restriction area:
Countrywide
Provincial
August 2021
Just days after seizing power, Taliban instructs women to stay at home and avoid travel.
08
09
10
September 2021
Many girls are banned from schools, women from all sports. Men are barred from shaving their beards.
11
12
2022
March 2022
Foreign TV series are banned. Norouz, pre-Islamic Persian New Year, is cancelled.
01
02
03
April 2022
Taliban bans TikTok and popular online game PUBG.
04
05
May 2022
All women are ordered to cover their faces in public by wearing an all-encompassing burqa or a niqab.
06
07
08
December 2022
Women are barred from attending all public and private universities. Taliban also bans local and foreign nongovernmental organizations from employing Afghan women.
09
10
11
12
2023
January 2023
Taliban orders pharmacies not to sell contraceptives.
01
02
February 2023
Female medical staff in Kabul are ordered to wear the hijab and face masks at all times.
03
04
April 2023
Video games, foreign films, and music are prohibited in Herat Province.
05
06
07
July 2023
Taliban bans women's beauty salons. All teacher-training centers are ordered to close.
Limits imposed on:
Women
Freedom of religion
Entertainment
Men’s appearance
Other aspects of life
Restriction area:
Countrywide
Provincial
August 2021
Just days after seizing power, Taliban instructs women to stay at home and avoid travel.
08
09
10
September 2021
Many girls are banned from schools, women from all sports. Men are barred from shaving their beards.
11
12
2022
March 2022
Foreign TV series are banned. Norouz, pre-Islamic Persian New Year, is cancelled.
01
02
03
April 2022
Taliban bans TikTok and popular online game PUBG.
04
05
May 2022
All women are ordered to cover their faces in public by wearing an all-encompassing burqa or a niqab.
06
07
08
December 2022
Women are barred from attending all public and private universities. Taliban also bans local and foreign nongovernmental organizations from employing Afghan women.
09
10
11
12
2023
January 2023
Taliban orders pharmacies not to sell contraceptives.
01
02
February 2023
Female medical staff in Kabul are ordered to wear the hijab and face masks at all times.
03
04
05
April 2023
Video games, foreign films, and music are prohibited in Herat Province.
06
07
July 2023
Taliban bans women's beauty salons. All teacher-training centers are ordered to close.