The Taliban have ordered airlines in Afghanistan to turn away women unless they are escorted by a male relative.

Women have previously been banned from traveling long distances on the road without a male companion, and according to airline employees, a new ban was introduced on Thursday that also prevents women from flying alone.

”"No women are allowed to fly domestically or internationally without a male relative," reads a written order sent to airlines seen by AFP.

The Ministry of Morals claims that no such order has been issued, but several women have reportedly already been prevented from boarding flights and travel agencies confirm that they are no longer selling tickets to women traveling alone.

The Taliban, who took power in Afghanistan in August last year, have claimed that they no longer oppress women the way they did the last time they ruled the country, between 1996 and 2001. But several decisions indicate the opposite.

Last week, girls were supposed to be allowed to return to school for the first time in months. But it turned out that only younger children were allowed to return. Girls in the equivalent of sixth grade and above were sent home on orders from the Taliban regime.

Source: TT