1.2.3. Issued instructions

Table of contents

1.2.3. Issued instructions

A compilation of national decrees and instructions issued by the de facto authorities is available in Annex 3: Lists of decrees and instructions. Restrictions issued during the reference period of this report include:

  • universities were instructed to remove 680 books ‘conflicting with sharia’ from the curriculum (September 2025). These included many books authored by women.202 A Taliban spokesperson confirmed to BBC News that no books authored by women were allowed to be taught;203

  • universities were instructed to stop teaching 18 subjects ‘conflicting with sharia’ (September 2025), including gender, women,204 democracy and human rights;205

  • a ban on playing chess (11 May 2025);206

  • a law on ‘Poetry Regulation’ (30 August 2025),207 reportedly restricting poetry gatherings,208 romantic poetry addressing relationships between men and women, and poetry criticising the Taliban Supreme Leader. Poets were urged to avoid references to feminism, democracy, communism, and nationalism;209

  • new guidelines for political analysts participating in political debates (July 2025).210 They were urged to speak ‘in accordance with sharia’211 and obtain an identity card from the de facto Ministry of Information and Culture before appearing in media;212

  • a ban on new constructions with windows overlooking neighbours’ private areas where women are often visible, such as courtyards and kitchens (December 2024);213

  • a prohibition of medical education for women (2 December 2024).214

The UN Secretary-General reported on restrictions on religious preaching, smartphone use, and funeral prayers for suicide victims.215 This information has however not been possible to corroborate with other sources within the time constraints of drafting this report.

  • 202

    BBC News, Taliban ban books written by women from Afghan universities, 19 September 2025, url; New York Times (The), Taliban Bans Books by Women in Afghanistan’s Universities, 19 September 2025, url

  • 203

    BBC News, Taliban ban books written by women from Afghan universities, 19 September 2025, url

  • 204

    BBC News, Taliban ban books written by women from Afghan universities, 19 September 2025, url

  • 205

    New York Times (The), Taliban Bans Books by Women in Afghanistan’s Universities, 19 September 2025, url

  • 206

    France 24, Taliban suspends chess in Afghanistan, cites religious concerns over gambling, 11 May 2025, url

  • 207

    Amu TV, Taliban leader bans romantic poetry and his criticism under new law, 31 August 2025, url

  • 208

    UN General Assembly and UN Security Council, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, 5 September 2025, url, para. 5

  • 209

    Amu TV, Taliban leader bans romantic poetry and his criticism under new law, 31 August 2025, url; Print (The), As Taliban declares war on verse, Afghan women lose their only weapon, but say silence won’t last, 2 September 2025, url

  • 210

    Telegraph (The), Taliban bans political debate in free speech crackdown, 3 July 2025, url

  • 211

    UN General Assembly and UN Security Council, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, 5 September 2025, url, para. 35; Telegraph (The), Taliban bans political debate in free speech crackdown, 3 July 2025, url

  • 212

    UN General Assembly and UN Security Council, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, 5 September 2025, url, para. 35

  • 213

    UN Human Rights Council, The situation of human rights in Afghanistan, 5 September 2025, url, para. 21; AFP, Taliban leader bans windows overlooking places 'usually used by women', 29 December 2024, url

  • 214

    HRW, Afghanistan’s Taliban Ban Medical Training for Women, 3 December 2024, url

  • 215

    UN General Assembly and UN Security Council, The situation in Afghanistan and its implications for international peace and security, 5 September 2025, url, para. 5