– Gyms have been closed to women because their trainers were men, and some gyms were not gender-segregated, says Taliban spokesman Mohammad Akif Sadeq Mohajir.
Even traditional bathhouses, which have always been gender-segregated, are now prohibited for women.
– Nowadays, every house has a bathroom, so it is not a problem for the women, adds the spokesperson.
A clip on social media, the authenticity of which has not been verified, shows women defying the gym ban. According to activists, the increasingly strict restrictions on women are a way to prevent the organization of an opposition to Taliban rule.
Women’s participation in public life has been curtailed piecemeal since the Taliban took power in August 2021, despite promises of softer rule compared to the previous Taliban regime.