In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, the closure of these women-run small restaurants is a significant setback.
Since their return to power in August 2021, the Taliban have implemented a series of measures restricting women’s freedoms, including banning secondary education and university for women and enforcing strict dress codes.
Women are left with limited employment options, with women-only restaurants and kitchens being one of the few remaining choices. However, the Taliban is pressuring these establishments to close.
The Brai-Banowan-Afghan restaurant, which means “For Afghan Ladies,” was one of the few places in northeastern Afghanistan where women could work and dine freely. It was run by women, for women.
Taliban’s Ministry of Vice and Virtue visited the Brai-Banowan-Afghan restaurant and inspected it for compliance with “religious edicts”.
Nawa, the owner of The Brai-Banowan-Afghan restaurant, stated that the Taliban group informed her after checking the restaurant if it was complying with religious edicts, “You have male customers coming to eat here. We are closing your restaurant for violating our religious edicts.”
The Taliban’s Ministry of Vice and Virtue had granted permission for the women’s restaurants to operate, with the condition that they “cater exclusively to women and do not serve male customers or employ male staff.” This was confirmed by the Taliban’s Ministry.
“No male customer has come to the restaurant,” Nawa said, “This is an excuse for the Taliban to increase restrictions on our work.”
This incident led all restaurant employees to stay home out of fear.
Born into a relatively well-off family, Nawa faced financial hardship after marriage. “I realized that just because a family is wealthy doesn’t make the woman wealthy. She must have her own money,” she said. Her experiences motivated her to help other women in dire straits through the restaurant.
The 34-year-old mother of five, envisioned it as a place where vulnerable women, often the sole breadwinners of their families, could find employment and a sense of purpose. Her staff included widows, young women deprived of education, and women from underprivileged backgrounds. “We were providing jobs for women and a welcoming space to eat,” Nawa said. “One of the women has seven children, and her husband passed away, and this was the only opportunity for her to bring food to the table.”
The closure of the Brai-Banowan-Afghan restaurant is a stark reminder of the limited opportunities available to Afghan women.
25-year-old Shabnam, who worked at the restaurant to support her family after her father’s passing, now faces an uncertain future. “Working has improved my mood,” Shabnam said, “But now I don’t know what to do.”
“I am tired; first, they closed my university, and now that I chose to work in the restaurant, they closed this as well,” said Shabnam. She used to be a student at Kabul University, studying in the agriculture faculty, until the Taliban banned women from attending university.
Restaurants, created and run by women, had become a refuge for women In Taliban-controlled Afghanistan that was becoming increasingly restrictive. “It was not only important for the women who work there; the restaurant also provides a space for women to gather and socialize outside the home,” said Nawa. “This space open for women is important.”
Women have expressed outrage and fear over the closures, viewing them yet another step towards erasing women’s presence in public life.
A woman customer of the Restaurant said, “This was a place where women could feel safe and independent. Now, that is taken from us.” Another woman, a frequent visitor to the restaurant, shared her distress: “These restaurants were our only refuge. Where are we supposed to go now?”
A similar situation unfolded at another women-only restaurant, which cannot be named due to security concerns. Shahida, one of the workers, shared her experience: “The restaurant was a beacon of hope for us. It allowed us to work in a safe environment and support our families. Now, with the closure, we are left with no options.” Shahida, a single mother of three, now faces uncertainty and fear for her family’s future. Taliban officials visited their restaurant multiple times, often chastising the women for not wearing their hijabs correctly or for minor infractions. “They told us women cannot work here because it is against their beliefs,” Shahida said. “But what other options do we have?”
Halima, another worker at a different women-run restaurant, also facing closure, recounted the impact of the Taliban’s restrictions: “The restaurant was more than just a place to work. It was a sanctuary where we could gather, share our stories, and support each other. Losing this space is devastating.” She recalled a senior Taliban figure visiting the restaurant and declaring that women should not be working at all, as it goes against their interpretation of religious laws. “He said women should be at home, not out working. We were terrified and didn’t know what to do,” Halima shared.
