Over the past five years, Taliban restrictions on women’s sports have created serious challenges for women’s access to gyms and appropriate athletic facilities. At the same time, several women in Kabul say that after the closure of gyms, they have been forced to turn to parks and open spaces to preserve their physical and mental health. They add that these locations lack the necessary facilities for exercise and, in terms of security and peace of mind, do not offer suitable conditions for women’s sports. According to them, exercising in public spaces comes with concerns about harassment, unwelcome stares, and the imposition of further restrictions. These women emphasize that open spaces cannot replace properly equipped gyms designated for women.
These women, speaking with the Hasht-e Subh Daily, say that the closure of gyms, in addition to limiting sports activities, has also made it difficult for women to access one of the means of maintaining their physical and mental health. They consider exercise part of life’s basic needs and a way to reduce psychological pressure, and they are calling for the restrictions to be lifted and for safe, well-equipped sports spaces to be made available for women.
Fawzia, a resident of Kabul, says that the Taliban’s closure of gyms to women has eliminated her access to a suitable place to exercise. She adds that due to her health condition, she needs regular exercise, but she is now forced to go to the street near her home every morning to work out. According to Fawzia, the lack of a private yard, the high cost of exercise equipment, and Taliban restrictions on women’s sports have taken away her ability to continue training in a proper environment.
This woman says: “Before the gym closed, I used to exercise to burn fat and lose weight. I thought housework would take the place of exercise, but when my blood fat level reached 300, the doctor told me I needed to exercise. Now the gym is closed, and exercise equipment is also very expensive, so I cannot afford to buy it.”
Fawzia also says that women who have turned to streets and public places to continue exercising after the closure of gyms face concerns about confrontations with the Taliban as well as harassment from some men.
This woman adds: “Exercising outdoors can never replace the facilities and calm of a gym. We are forced to go early in the morning; time is limited, and we also worry that the Taliban might show up. Instead of understanding our situation, some men mock us, which is very distressing for us.”
Shazia, another woman in Kabul, says that before the closure of gyms, she used to exercise regularly and that training was part of her daily life. She adds that with the imposition of Taliban restrictions, her access to a gym and sports facilities was lost, and that this situation, in addition to depriving her of exercise, also affected her morale. According to Shazia, after the gyms closed, she experienced a period of severe hopelessness and felt she had lost part of her life.
Shazia says: “When the gyms closed, I became very hopeless and went through a period of severe depression. I felt like everything had come to an end. Exercise was an important part of my life, and losing it was very hard for me. Every morning I go to the street near my house to continue my workouts, but the street and open space can never replace a gym. I try to exercise for the sake of my health, but there are no tools or facilities to make the movements more effective for my body.”
Meanwhile, several men say that women’s exclusion from gyms has taken away part of their opportunity for sports activities and presence in social environments. In their view, restricting women’s access to gyms is a decision that has limited their choices for pursuing health and wellness.
Ali Same, a resident of Kabul, says that restrictions on women’s sports have reduced their access to physical activity and their opportunity to be present in public spaces. He adds that women, like men, need suitable and safe places to exercise in order to maintain their physical and mental health.
Same says: “Exercise is not just a pastime; it is essential for maintaining physical and mental health, and women need it just as much as men do. Restricting women’s access to gyms has taken away part of their opportunity to look after their own health and to take part in social activities. Women’s continued exercise in public spaces should not face restriction or obstruction, and women should be able to continue their sports activities in safe and calm environments. Providing opportunities for women’s exercise can help preserve their physical and mental health.”
Several physicians also say that the closure of gyms and the reduction in women’s physical activity could expose them to adverse health consequences, both physical and mental. They add that regular exercise plays a role in preventing weight gain, high blood fat, and certain physical problems, and that depriving women of suitable exercise environments has limited their access to this means of prevention. According to them, exercising outdoors, particularly in the absence of facilities and safe conditions, cannot in all cases serve as a substitute for well-equipped gyms.
Benafsha Arifi, a physician, says that regular exercise plays a role in strengthening the heart and muscles, maintaining bone density, controlling weight, and reducing blood fat, and that it can lower the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. She adds that reduced physical activity in women, particularly as they age, can contribute to weight gain, high blood fat, and high blood sugar, and in some cases can lead to hormonal problems requiring hormone therapy. According to Arifi, walking and exercising outdoors is beneficial, but air pollution can threaten women’s respiratory health and cause problems such as sore throat and respiratory illness.
Ms. Arifi says: “Regular exercise can strengthen the heart and muscles, regulate the body’s bone density, and prevent high blood fat and excess weight. Anything that prevents excess weight, high blood fat, and high blood sugar can also reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease, and lay the groundwork for a healthier life.”
This physician adds: “Morning walks outdoors are good, but given air pollution, there is a risk of lung damage. Polluted air can cause respiratory problems, colds, and sore throat; therefore, having a suitable space and clean air also matters for exercise.”
On November 10, 2022, the Taliban banned women’s presence in sports clubs across Afghanistan. The group cited noncompliance with its required hijab as the reason for the decision, and following this, sports clubs designated for women in the country were effectively shut down. This restriction reduced women’s and girls’ access to sports venues and deprived them of continuing regular training in well-equipped environments. Afterward, several women turned to open spaces, parks, and streets to continue their sports activities, places which, according to them, lack the facilities, security, and calm necessary for exercise.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
ممنوعیت ورزش زنان؛ محدودیتها سلامت و آرامش آنان را گرفته است
