What it is like to run a business as a woman in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan

August 12, 2026

Following the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, women have faced severe restrictions despite initial promises to protect their rights, including bans on education and employment that have effectively imprisoned them in their homes. Arezo, an Afghan woman, defied these constraints by establishing a business in 2023 that employed both women and men, but encountered constant discrimination, harassment, and intrusive questioning from authorities and community members. She was eventually arrested and detained by Taliban forces simply for operating her business and employing women, experiencing profound humiliation before being released to her family's custody.

Who is affected

Afghan women and girls collectively
Arezo, the businesswoman and author
Six women and eight men employed by Arezo's business
Arezo's family members (who guaranteed her release)
Women previously working in government and private sectors
Female students banned from schools, universities, and educational centers

What action is being taken

The Taliban is imposing and enforcing laws restricting women's rights
The Taliban is conducting arrests and detentions of women who violate their restrictions
Taliban forces are entering offices and demanding the firing of female employees
Arezo was operating a business in the detergent and plastic sectors employing multiple people (though this occurred in 2023 and her current status is unclear)

Why it matters

This situation represents a systematic dismantling of human rights affecting half of Afghanistan's population, effectively removing women from economic and public life and confining them to their homes. The elimination of women's access to education, employment, and freedom of movement not only violates fundamental human rights but also devastates Afghanistan's economic potential and social development. The personal account demonstrates how even attempts at entrepreneurship and job creation are met with arrest and humiliation, illustrating the Taliban's complete rejection of women's autonomy and the erasure of hope for any future improvement under their rule.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Global Voices