The Taliban have barred Afghan women from entering the capital's public parks and funfairs, months after ordering access to be segregated by gender.
The new rule, introduced this week, further squeezes women out of an ever-shrinking public space: they have already been banned from travelling without a male escort and are forced to wear a hijab or burqa whenever out of the home.
Schools for teenage girls have also been shut for more than a year across most of the country.
“For the past 15 months, we tried our best to arrange and sort it out ― and even specified the days,” Mohammad Akif Sadeq Mohajir, spokesman for the Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue, told AFP late on Wednesday.
“But still, in some places ― in fact, we must say in many places ― the rules were violated.
“There was mixing [of men and women], hijab was not observed, that's why the decision has been taken for now.”
The news was met with dismay by women and park operators, who invested heavily in developing the facilities.
“There are no schools, no work … we should at least have a place to have fun,” said one woman, who asked to be identified only as Wahida, as she watched her children play in a park through the window of an adjoining restaurant.
“We are just bored and fed up with being at home all day, our minds are tired,” she told AFP.
At the next table, Raihana, 21, who is studying Islamic law at university, shared her disappointment after arriving at the park to spend the day with her sisters.
“We were very excited … we are tired of staying at home,” she said.
“Obviously, in Islam, it is allowed to go out and visit parks. When you have no freedom in your own country, then what does it mean to live here?”
A few kilometres away, the Ferris wheel and most of the other rides in Zazai Park ― which offers a spectacular view of the city ― have ground to a sudden halt because of a lack of business.
Before this week's ban, it could accommodate hundreds of visitors on days when women brought their children for family gatherings.
On Fridays and public holidays, even more would flock to the park ― one of the few attractions in the city.
But on Wednesday, only a handful of men wandered through the complex.
Habib Jan Zazai, co-developer of the complex, fears he may have to close down a business that he has poured $11 million into, and which employs more than 250 people.
“Without women, the children will not come alone,” he told AFP.
He said such edicts would discourage investment by foreigners or Afghans living abroad, as well as affect revenue collection.
“A government is run by taxes. If an investor is not paying tax, then how can they run?”
Mohammad Tamim, 20, sipping tea in the park during a visit from Kandahar where he teaches at a madrassa, called the ban “bad news”.
“Every human psychologically needs to be entertained,” he said.
“Muslims need to be entertained ― especially after 20 years of war.”
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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South Korea
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
F1 The Movie
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Company profile
Name: The Concept
Founders: Yadhushan Mahendran, Maria Sobh and Muhammad Rijal
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: 2017
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Sector: Aviation and space industry
Funding: $250,000
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
