Taliban ban long-distance road trips for solo woman

The Talibans have said Afghan women seeking to travel long distances by road should be offered transport only if accompanied by a male relative.

The directive, issued on Sunday, is the latest curb on women’s rights since the Islamist group seized power in August. The majority of secondary schools remains shut for girls, while most women have been banned from working. Campaign group Human Rights Watch said the new restriction moved further towards making women prisoners.

Heather Barr, the group’s associate director of women’s rights, told media  the order “shuts off opportunities for women to be able to move about freely” or “to be able to flee if they are facing violence in the home”. The latest directive, issued by the Taliban’s Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, said women travelling for more than 45 miles (72km) must be accompanied by a close male family member.