The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has imposed a ban on women-run beauty salons, resulting in the unemployment of numerous female workers in a country already grappling with extreme poverty and ongoing restrictions against women. The ministry of vice and virtue issued a text message on Tuesday, ordering the immediate closure of all beauty salons operated by women in Kabul and other provinces. The salons have been given one month, starting from July 2, to comply with the ban. Mohammad Sadeq Akif Muhajir, the ministry's spokesman, warned of legal action against violators. Prior to this ban, the Taliban had already imposed restrictions on girls' access to education, sports facilities, and public spaces like parks and swimming pools. They had recently extended the ban to women working for the United Nations and enforced a strict dress code, while also curtailing women's freedom of movement by mandating their presence with a male relative during travel.