The Taliban’s oppressive regime in Afghanistan has taken another horrifying step in its war on women’s rights. After already enforcing strict dress codes—including mandatory full-body burqas that leave only the eyes visible—reports now indicate that women may be forced to cover one eye, further restricting their vision and autonomy.
Why Is the Taliban Restricting Women’s Vision?
This shocking new measure is part of the Taliban’s systematic campaign to erase women from public life. The extremist group has already:
– Banned girls from secondary and university education
– Forced women out of most jobs
– Prohibited women from traveling without a male guardian
– Imposed strict dress codes, including full-face coverings
Now, forcing women to cover one eye would:
✔ Physically impair their mobility – Depth perception is crucial for walking safely, working, and daily tasks.
✔ Symbolically reduce women to “half-citizens”– This dehumanizing rule reinforces the Taliban’s view that women should be invisible.
✔ Further isolate women– Limiting vision makes it harder to communicate, recognize faces, or navigate public space
While human rights organizations have condemned the Taliban’s gender apartheid, the international response has been weak. Afghan women continue resisting through:
