A recent enforcement campaign by Taliban morality police regarding women’s attire has triggered a sharp economic downturn in Herat, as female residents—the primary customer base for the city’s markets—increasingly avoid public spaces due to fear of detention.
Dozens of women were detained in early June by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV) for allegedly violating dress codes by failing to wear the body-cloaking chador or burqa. Since these incidents, shopkeepers and residents report that the bustling markets of Herat, once a commercial hub, have seen a dramatic decline in activity.
Economic Fallout for Local Businesses
The restriction on women’s mobility has had an immediate impact on the city’s private sector. Nazeer Ahmad Azimi, who operates a shoe store, stated that women typically account for 90 percent of sales in the market, often purchasing items for their entire families. Azimi estimates that the intensified enforcement of dress restrictions has halved the turnover in the city’s markets.
The decline in foot traffic has directly impacted service providers as well. Farshid Karimi, a 21-year-old autorickshaw driver, reported that his daily earnings have plummeted from approximately $9 to $4. “Before, the women could freely take the rickshaw to go around,” Karimi said. “Now, as the restrictions have been imposed, they do not go out so there is no work for us.”
Tailors, too, have felt the shift. Ramin Ghafoori, a 26-year-old businessman, noted that the marketplace revolves around women. “Since those incidents occurred… there were no women in the markets,” Ghafoori said. “If there is no woman, there is no bazaar.”
Fear and Withdrawal from Public Life
The crackdown has transformed the daily lives of women in Herat, a city previously recognized as a cultural capital where female university students were once a significant demographic. Women interviewed reported that they no longer leave their homes unless absolutely necessary, fearing intervention by PVPV officers.
One 27-year-old woman, who previously utilized private transport to attend daily language classes, stated that she has barely left her house since June. “I’ve been gripped by fear and terror. I truly gave up everything out of fear,” she said. Another resident, 28, described feeling like a stranger in her own city, noting that she no longer patronizes restaurants or goes on shopping trips with friends.
This withdrawal represents a loss of small but vital economic contributions. For example, the 27-year-old student noted that her daily transport costs were roughly $0.78, a recurring expense that supported the local economy.
Broader Context of Restrictions
Since returning to power in 2021, Taliban authorities have implemented a series of policies excluding women from public life, including barring them from studying beyond primary school, restricting their employment, and prohibiting visits to public parks. The United Nations previously estimated that policies excluding women from the workforce could cost the Afghan economy $1 billion annually. The current atmosphere in Herat is marked by both the economic contraction and the physical absence of women from the public sphere. As shopkeepers wait for customers who are too afraid to venture out, the future of the city’s once-vibrant commercial life remains uncertain. A spokesman for the Herat city administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the economic impact of these restrictions.
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