Date: 02/10/1403

Decree No. (14) – Dated December 22, 2024 (2/10/1403 in the Solar Hijri calendar)
Issued by His Excellency the Amir al-Mu'minin (Commander of the Faithful), may Allah protect him, regarding the construction of buildings and the placement of windows facing neighboring properties
Article 1:
If an individual constructs a building on their property, and there is an adjacent building or one within the typical distance between residential structures, the builder is prohibited from placing windows that face the neighboring home—particularly areas where women commonly cook, where water wells are located, or where women traditionally sit. Visibility into these areas must be prevented.
Article 2:
In accordance with Article 1, if a window has already been installed facing a neighbor’s home, the owner is obligated to erect a barrier—such as a wall of human height or any other suitable means—to eliminate harm or intrusion upon the neighbor.
Article 3:
Municipalities and other relevant authorities are required to monitor construction activities and prevent the installation of windows that violate this decree.
Article 4:
For buildings constructed prior to the issuance of this decree, where windows have been installed in contradiction to its provisions, the owners are required to build a wall of human height or take other appropriate measures to prevent harm to neighboring residents.
Article 5:
This decree is effective from the date of its endorsement and shall be published in the official gazette.
Peace and blessings be upon you.
Amir al-Mu'minin Sheikh al-Qur’an wal-Hadith Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada

This decree issued by Haibatullah Akhundzada regulates residential construction by prohibiting windows that face neighboring homes, explicitly framing women’s presence and activities as objects requiring concealment. By mandating retroactive structural alterations and empowering municipal enforcement, the decree embeds gendered surveillance and control into the built environment. The measure institutionalizes the erasure of women from public visibility while intruding on private property rights and normalizing collective enforcement of moralized privacy.