Women in Kabul say that the patriarchal structure of society has deprived them of their right to ownership. They explain that because of stereotypes and harmful customs and traditions, women are often denied their share of inheritance and excluded from family assets and property. These women add that even properties purchased with their own money are registered in the names of male relatives instead of their own. They stress that women’s economic dependence on male family members, coupled with a lack of awareness about women’s rights—especially under the patriarchal framework of Taliban-run institutions—directly restricts women’s property rights.
Many women in Kabul told the Hasht-e Subh Daily that they want more awareness campaigns through the media about women’s rights, particularly their right to ownership. According to them, their knowledge of property rights is very limited.
Sakina, a Kabul resident, says she knows little about her right to ownership. She explains that it has always been customary for sons to inherit everything, while she and her two sisters were given nothing. “In our village, it was always the custom that everything went to the sons. Daughters were considered to belong to someone else’s family. For that reason, no property was ever allocated to us. All I know is that a daughter also has the right to receive a share of her father’s property,” she says.
Karima, another Kabul resident, says patriarchy and unjust traditions have limited women’s access to property rights. She recounts that despite her repeated efforts to claim her inheritance—including appeals to tribal elders—her brothers never accepted responsibility and gave her no share.
“Islam clearly states that a daughter is entitled to half of what a son receives, but who listens? In Afghanistan, men consider themselves the owners of everything and rarely agree to give their sisters their rightful share,” Karima says.
Fereshta explains that her mother, despite being educated, was deprived of her right to inheritance because of the patriarchal culture in her family. Even during illness and severe financial need, she was denied her rightful share of her father’s estate. Fereshta adds that in Afghanistan’s patriarchal and tradition-driven society, women usually cannot exercise their legal rights because families prioritize the interests of men and ignore women’s rights.
“When we were in Pakistan, my mother’s brothers divided and sold all the property without her consent. Neither my mother nor her three sisters received a penny—no inheritance, no share. My mother was educated, but her brothers manipulated everything to their advantage and left her with nothing,” Fereshta recalls.
Shakila (pseudonym), another woman, says many families do not recognize women’s rights to ownership or independent activity. She adds that dominant traditions, family pressures, and patriarchal attitudes are major obstacles to women’s rights. “In many cases, women have purchased houses, gold, or cars with their own money, but instead of being registered in their names, the property is recorded under a male family member. This is a clear violation of women’s property rights,” she says.
At the same time, some legal experts warn that the Taliban’s restrictions on women’s access to legal offices have effectively blocked their path to securing property rights.
Shahla Farid, a university professor and legal expert, says: “The Taliban have not officially changed the Sharia or civil law, but in practice, they have imposed severe restrictions on women. This has made it impossible for women to freely approach Taliban institutions to register or claim their rights. Since the official process of registering ownership is handled through patriarchal courts, and women’s presence in Taliban-run institutions is nearly impossible, the pursuit of property rights for women has become extremely difficult.”
Setayesh Arzu, a lawyer, describes the Taliban regime as entirely patriarchal. She adds, “Many women, because of Taliban dominance and male-centered customs, cannot access their ownership rights or formally register property or land. Some people even consider it shameful to photograph women or ask them questions about their assets. This mindset has caused women, fearing social judgment, to refrain from pursuing the registration of their property.”
Afghanistan is a traditional and patriarchal society where many men consider themselves the owners of everything, including the women in their families. This mentality has led to the frequent denial of women’s property rights. The exclusively male structure of Taliban-controlled institutions and the requirement for women to be accompanied by a male guardian are major barriers to the formal registration of women’s ownership.
According to research by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security and the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, has been described as the worst country in the world for women.
Since taking control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on women and girls. In the latest law ratified by the Taliban leader, the inclusion of women’s photographs in national ID cards has been made optional.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
محروم از حق میراث؛ زنان در افغانستان حتا مالک اموال خود نیستند
