Afghanistan: Taliban says men and women can only visit amusement parks on separate, specified days

Kabul: Several months after taking over the Afghanistan government, the Taliban continue to enforce segregation rules in various areas. The latest topic of contention appears to be amusement parts, with men and women now being banned from visiting on the same day. According to reports, men would be allowed to visit between Wednesday and Saturday, while women could pick any other day from the remainder of the week.

The development comes around a month after Taliban members were banned from going on amusement park rides with weapons and military fatigues and insignia. "Mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate are not allowed to enter amusement parks with weapons, military uniforms and vehicles," said Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid.

The Taliban's apparent fondness for amusement parks is not new. It may be recalled that as the militant group took over the reigns of the Afghan government last year, videos of Taliban fighters taking rides in an amusement park had gone viral. The joyous visuals (especially at a time when thousands were making attempts to exit the country) had at the time been dubbed "nightmarishly strange" by netizens.

As the Taliban-led government looks to secure international recognition, many have accused the accused the group of breaching the promises they had made to the Afghan people. Months after the takeover, the Taliban regime recently backtracked on their previous commitment to open high schools to girls. Afghan girls were barred from schools hours after reopening, and the administration is yet to revoke its decree banning female students above grade six from participating in their classes. According to the Human Rights Watch women and girls are blocked from accessing health care, and reports have indicated that those facing violence have no escape route.

A Reuters report quoting sources also suggested on Sunday that the Taliban had told airlines in Afghanistan that women cannot board domestic or international flights without a male chaperone. A Taliban spokesman had previously said that women travelling abroad for study should be accompanied by a male relative.