A graphic video from 2015, filmed by an anonymous witness and obtained by Radio Free Afghanistan, revealed the Taliban's brutal execution of a 19-year-old woman named Rukshana, who was stoned to death for adultery. The footage depicted Rukshana, partially buried in a hole, being pelted with rocks by a group of men while others shouted religious slogans. Her death brought international condemnation and highlighted the extreme violence women faced in Afghanistan.
Rukshana's case stemmed from her refusal to marry a man chosen by her parents and her subsequent attempt to elope with her childhood sweetheart. After being captured, handed back to her father, and forced into another marriage, she escaped again. This time, she was intercepted by a Taliban commander who accused her of premarital sex. When her family could not pay a ransom demanded for her release, a Taliban cleric ordered her stoning.
Cycle of Violence and Discrimination
This incident was not an isolated event. Just months prior to Rukshana's killing, Farkhunda, another Afghan woman, was beaten and set on fire in Kabul after being falsely accused of desecrating a Koran. That same year, a video emerged showing a woman being publicly flogged for consensual sex outside marriage, with her male partner receiving similar punishment. These events underscored a wider pattern of violence and harsh punishments meted out to women in Afghanistan.
Since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, the situation for women and girls has significantly deteriorated. They face widespread discrimination, with strict laws governing their dress and behavior. Access to education is severely limited, with girls banned from secondary school and universities. Women are also largely excluded from the workforce and many public activities, including visiting parks or beauty salons. Regulations often require women to wear a full hijab and face covering in public, enforced by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.
Escalating Enforcement and Fear
Recent actions by the Taliban's morality police have intensified the climate of fear. In early August 2026, at least nine women were detained in Herat for alleged dress code violations, despite wearing hijabs. Residents report increased harassment and intimidation, with women becoming increasingly fearful of leaving their homes. Some women have been detained for wearing long coats, a seemingly minor infraction. In Panjshir province, female doctors were reportedly told they could not work unless they wore burqas.
These detentions have followed protests against the Taliban's morality police. In June 2026, security forces opened fire on demonstrators protesting the arrest of women and girls for dress code violations, resulting in at least one death and several injuries. Despite the protests and international scrutiny, the Taliban have maintained their strict interpretation of Sharia law, which human rights organizations describe as effectively criminalizing women's presence in public life.
A March 2026 report by the UN Human Rights office detailed the severe worsening of conditions for Afghans, particularly women and girls, under Taliban rule. The report highlighted the impact of successive decrees and laws that have restricted women's access to education, healthcare, civic participation, and freedom of movement. The exclusion of women from higher education and medical institutes, as well as restrictions on public transport and markets for non-compliance with dress codes, have been noted. The UN chief described Afghanistan as a "graveyard for human rights" due to these policies.