Taliban Enforces Indefinite Nationwide Internet Blackout, Isolating Afghan Women and Crippling Services
Taliban Enforces Indefinite Nationwide Internet Blackout, Isolating Afghan Women and Crippling Services
Afghanistan has plunged into a nationwide internet blackout as the Taliban government imposed an indefinite shutdown of online services, effective Tuesday. This drastic measure has been described as a “total internet blackout” by watchdog Netblocks, immediately severing the country’s last digital lifeline and paralyzing essential services.
For countless Afghan women, who have faced escalating restrictions since the Taliban seized power in 2021, the internet represented a crucial connection to education and economic opportunity. Fahima Noori, a law and midwifery graduate, had enrolled in an online university hoping to complete her studies and secure remote work. “Our last hope was online learning. Now [even] that dream has been destroyed,” she stated, echoing the despair of many like Shakiba, who saw online education as the only path left after traditional schooling was banned for girls over 12.
The shutdown, which followed weeks of severed fibre-optic connections in various provinces, has brought critical infrastructure to a standstill. International news agencies report losing contact with their Kabul offices, while mobile internet and satellite TV services are severely disrupted. Local media also indicate disruptions to flights from Kabul airport.
The Taliban government justified the move as an an effort to prevent “immorality.” This latest restriction adds to a growing list of decrees, including bans on girls’ education beyond primary school, severe limitations on women’s employment, and the recent removal of books by women from university curricula. Critics argue these policies, enacted under the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic Sharia law, systematically dismantle women’s rights and further isolate Afghanistan from the global community.
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.