Since the return of Taliban rule in 2021, Afghan women have faced an increasingly repressive environment, with their participation in public life severely curtailed. One of the most emblematic examples of this regression has been the nationwide ban on beauty salons, an industry that not only served as a rare safe space for women but also functioned as a vital economic lifeline for thousands of families across the country.

The crackdown on women’s economic autonomy has not occurred in isolation. It follows a broader, systematic effort to restrict female visibility and participation in Afghan society. Women have been barred from higher education beyond sixth grade, removed from most public-sector roles, and subjected to increasingly rigid codes governing their behavior and movement. Against this backdrop, the closure of beauty salons in 2023 marked yet another blow to women’s independence and agency.

Before the ban, beauty salons in Afghanistan represented one of the few industries where women could find employment, generate income, and support their families. With over 12,000 salons operating nationwide, the sector had become a vital component of female-led entrepreneurship. These........

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