Law students and lawyers in Afghanistan are filing reports with JURIST on the situation there after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban. Here, a female law student in Herat in western Afghanistan offers her latest observations and perspective. For privacy and security reasons we are withholding her name and institutional affiliation. The text has been only lightly edited to respect the author’s voice.

Since the Taliban took power in Herat, female staff at the Department of Education in Herat (Marif) have been barred from going to work. Last Monday, the head of the Department (who is one of the Taliban) asked them to came into that Department. There, a separate place has been designated for them (completely separate from men) and they have not been allowed to carry out their previous activities. They have been just allowed to sign in.

The Taliban have promised to appoint them as school principals. This means the Taliban won’t allow females to work in that Department.

The Department of Education is one of the most important Departments in Herat. There are many women who work with men in that Department. Women do key tasks there, but they are no longer allowed to work there. This is a tragedy. Gender discrimination and the separation of women from men have begun again.

The appointment of the all-female staff of that Department to schools as principals is also irresponsible, because the work in the two places is completely different.