Shrinking public space for Afghan women as Taliban expands curbs

Over the last few weeks, the Taliban leaders have announced many new restrictions, even as criticism and international pressure mount against them [File: Rouba El Husseini/AFP]

Kabul, Afghanistan – As a 35-year-old university lecturer, Nazifa regularly took the local minivan, a popular means of transport in the Afghan capital, Kabul, for her daily commute from home to the university and back. As a native of the city, she was very familiar with the highways, streets and back alleys, and rarely ever felt uncomfortable travelling by herself.

That was until last week, when the minivan that Nazifa, who requested her name be changed, was travelling in was stopped by a Taliban guard.