Taliban ban women from traveling abroad without male relatives, calling it a ‘cleaning operation’ 

What happened: On March 1, the Taliban spokesman Zaihullah Mujahid announced a ban on women traveling alone without the presence of a male relative. Publications reported,  “The Taliban have clamped down on Afghans leaving the country as, separately, their forces continue a massive security sweep, going house-to-operation across the capital in a cleaning operation.”  Details: Zabihullah Majid, in his announcement, stated that this is to prevent the hardships faced by the Afghans from going abroad. The News quoted the development as,  “Women will not be able to fly abroad unless accompanied by a male relative.”  While addressing a press conference, the Taliban spokesman said,  “If women want to travel abroad, they should have a chaperone. This is the order of Islamic Sharia law.”  More:   Subsequently, on March 1, the Taliban forces continued their cleaning operation in the capital, as the force went from house to house in search of weapons and criminals. In December, it is pertinent to mention that the Taliban had restricted women by ensuring that they travel outside their homes in the presence of a male counterpart.