Taliban bar women from working at NGOs

• It also threatens billions of dollars in aid that has provided food and humanitarian assistance to some 28.3 million Afghans amid an economic collapse, the New York Times reports.

Driving the news: The new rule was instated after the Economy Ministry allegedly received complaints about some female employees failing to wear the hijab correctly, thus violating Sharia law, per AP.

• The order, announced in a letter from Economy Minister Qari Din Mohammed Hanif, applies to both foreign and domestic NGOs.
• Any NGO that doesn't comply will have its operating license revoked in the country, per AP.
• It was not immediately clear if the order applies to United Nations aid agencies.

What they're saying: The UN issued a statement Saturday condemning the reported order, and saying they'll seek to meet with the Taliban leadership to obtain clarity.

• "The United Nations is profoundly concerned by reports that the Taliban de facto authorities today issued an order barring all female employees of national and international organizations from going to work with immediate effect," the statement reads.
• "Any such order would violate the most fundamental rights of women, as well as be a clear breach of humanitarian principles."