RASC News Agency: Several owners of women’s bathhouses in Herat Province report that the Taliban’s closure of these establishments has inflicted severe economic damage on them. Laila, the owner of one such bathhouse in Herat, told RASC News Agency on Friday, May 24th, that the Taliban’s actions have reduced their income to zero.
She added that the closure of women’s bathhouses in Herat has eliminated their source of income, yet they are still required to pay rent and other related expenses. She remarked, “Herat, unlike neighboring countries, especially Iran, does not have its own electricity and gas infrastructure, making it difficult for people to use home baths.”
Leila emphasized that the Taliban need to reconsider their decision to alleviate the concerns of women in Herat and other provinces. Similarly, Feriba, another owner of a women’s bathhouse in Herat, stated that she invested significantly in her bathhouse to attract many customers. According to her, the Taliban, by shutting down women’s bathhouses, have disrupted the lives of thousands of women in Herat and rendered substantial investments inactive.
Feriba added that she spent over one million Kabuli rupees on her bathhouse, hoping to recover the investment and provide a service for the city’s women. Now, she has lost both her capital and her daily income. Additionally, several women from Herat have noted that the closure of women’s bathhouses has created further difficulties for them.
Benafsha Qayoumi, a woman from Herat, told RASC News Agency that families who wish to use home baths face high electricity bills. She explained that rising electricity costs and increasing prices for liquid gas are significant issues for families in Herat, preventing them from using home baths.
The Taliban’s justification for closing women’s bathhouses is that, according to their interpretation of Sharia law, girls and women should not bathe outside their homes.
