To the esteemed Kabul Municipality,
Date: 1444/12/07
Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.

Subject: Regarding the verbal directive from the esteemed leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and further instructions from His Excellency Amir al-Mu’minin, may Allah protect him.

It is hereby informed that from the date 3/4/1402 to 5/5/1402, female beauty salons across Kabul city and provinces are granted time to operate. After the specified period, their activities will be prohibited, and any permits or contracts issued after 3/5/1402 will become invalid.

This is for your information and necessary action. Please ensure the implementation of the directive from the esteemed leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and inform this ministry of the actions taken. Additionally, please circulate and convey this directive to the 34 provincial departments.

And peace.

Sheikh Mohammad Mazher Mohammadi, Deputy Minister for Professional and Policy Affairs, Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.

The Taliban’s decision to close all women-run beauty salons has dealt a devastating blow to thousands of Afghan women who relied on this work for income and community. Salons were among the last spaces where women could safely gather and earn a living.

Many salon workers are the sole providers for their families. One salon owner in Kabul, Tamanna Sahiba, described the impact in a phone call the day after the closure: “I don’t worry about my own unemployment, but the woman who works for me—she’s the head of her family and has six young children. She will be ruined.”