Afghan Taliban clamp down on women, smartphones, protests

critical · Deutsche Welle · 23 Jun 2026 · 13:11 UTC · Authoritarian Governance · 1 min read

Summary

Taliban's systematic control mechanisms combining gender oppression, smartphone surveillance restrictions, violent protest suppression, and omnipresent state monitoring exemplify authoritarian governance and political repression worthy of archival.

The Taliban are tightening the screws on women's clothing, shooting at protesters and ordering even their own officials to stop using smartphones. Behind the regime's omnipresent control, there are signs of deep anxiety.

gender-based repression state control surveillance infrastructure protest suppression totalitarian governance

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Afghan Taliban clamp down on women, smartphones, protests

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