Afghan Women Struggle to Obtain Exit Form Amid Travel Restrictions
Several young Afghan women wishing to travel abroad for education, scholarships, or residency report being unable to obtain the ‘No Criminal Responsibility’ form despite completing all administrative procedures at the Taliban’s Ministry of Interior. According to these women, officials collect fees, register biometrics, and obtain permission from a male guardian but ultimately refuse to hand over the required document.
The process, as described by these women, begins with a visit accompanied by their male guardian, whose fingerprint and signature are taken to confirm consent for the woman’s travel. Then, the applicant’s biometrics are recorded, and they are instructed to return the next day to the Criminal Affairs Department in Block 313 to collect the form.
However, applicants say that upon returning, they face insulting behavior from staff and are sent home without receiving the form. They report being passed from one office to another, spending time and money, yet failing to achieve results.
Some of these women stress that this situation has deprived them of important educational opportunities. One said that despite being accepted for a scholarship and completing all paperwork, she was unable to leave the country because the form was not issued.
The ‘No Criminal Responsibility’ form is one of the essential documents required to obtain a passport and legally exit Afghanistan. Travel and education restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women have repeatedly drawn criticism from human rights organizations in recent years, raising concerns about violations of women’s fundamental rights.
