Afghan women had been active in humanitarian relief organizations until the Taliban imposed severe restrictions on their ability to work.
The treatment of women under the Taliban is more extreme than most westerners could imagine. They were treated like animals, and one could even say that they were treaded worse than animals. In fact, the Taliban declared the keeping of caged birds and animals illegal, while women were imprisoned in the four walls of their own houses. The Taliban saw women useful only when they were busy producing children, satisfying male sexual needs or attending to the drudgery of daily housework. .
Some of the restrictions on women included:.
A Complete ban on women's work outside the home, which also applied to female .
teachers, engineers and most professionals. Only a few female doctors and nurses are .
allowed to work in some hospitals in Kabul. .
A Complete ban on women's activity outside the home unless accompanied by a mahram .
(close male relative such as a father, brother or husband). .
Ban on women dealing with male shopkeepers. .
Ban on women studying at schools, universities or any other educational institution. .
(Taliban have converted girls' schools into religious seminaries.) .
Requirement that women wear a long veil (Burqa), which covers them from head to toe. .
Whipping, beating and verbal abuse of women not clothed in accordance with Taliban .
rules, or of women unaccompanied by a mahram. .
Whipping of women in public for having non-covered ankles. .
Public stoning of women accused of having sex outside marriage. .
(A number of lovers are stoned to death under this rule). .
Ban on the use of cosmetics. (Many women with painted nails have had fingers cut off). .
Ban on women talking or shaking hands with non-mahram males. .
Ban on women laughing loudly.