Afghan women were barred from attending celebrations marking the fourth anniversary of the Taliban’s return to power on Friday. Some 10,000 men gathered across the capital, Kabul, to watch Defense Ministry helicopters scatter flowers to the crowds below. Three of the six “flower shower” locations were already off-limits to women because they have been prohibited from entering parks and recreational areas since November 2022. The Taliban seized Afghanistan on Aug. 15, 2021, as the U.S. and NATO withdrew their forces at the end of a two-decade war. Since then, they have imposed their interpretation of Islamic law on daily life, including sweeping restrictions on women and girls, based on edicts from their leader Hibatullah Akhundzada. Friday’s anniversary program, which also comprised speeches from key Cabinet members, was only for men. An outdoor sports performance, initially expected to feature Afghan athletes, did not take place. Rights groups, foreign governments, and the U.N. have condemned the Taliban for their treatment of women and girls, who remain barred from education beyond sixth grade, many jobs, and most public spaces.

Full report : Afghan women barred from Taliban takeover anniversary celebrations in Kabul.