On Saturday, Whitney Wright, an American adult film star, shared new photos from her visit to various Afghan cities. In one image, she is seen holding an AK-47 rifle, suggesting that she is travelling under Taliban security.
Earlier, Wright posted a video from Band-e Amir, Afghanistan’s national park, despite the Taliban banning Afghan women from entering the site a year and a half ago. At the time, Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban’s Minister for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, stated that women were prohibited from visiting the area, asserting that “tourism is neither obligatory nor necessary” for them.
Under Taliban-imposed restrictions, Afghan women are not permitted to travel more than 72 kilometres alone without a male guardian. The group has also barred women from entering parks, restaurants, and gyms.
On Friday, Wright shared images from Kabul and Herat on her social media accounts, showcasing various locations in both cities. Her posts included photos of an Ariana Airlines aircraft, the tiled ceiling of a shrine in Herat, a shop, and rickshaws on a street, although she was not visible in any of these pictures.
Afghanistan International reached out to Wright regarding the timing and purpose of her visit but has not yet received a response. The Taliban have also not commented on her presence in Afghanistan.
Wright is known as a vocal supporter of Palestine and frequently posts in solidarity with Palestinians.
Despite their harsh restrictions on Afghan women, the Taliban have facilitated travel for both male and female foreign tourists, seemingly to project a “positive image” of their rule to the world.
Civil society activists have condemned the Taliban’s double standards, highlighting the stark contrast between their oppressive measures against Afghan women and their hospitality towards foreign female visitors.
Last year, a 29-year-old Brazilian traveller who visited Taliban-controlled Afghanistan stated that while she disagreed with the Taliban’s ideology, she faced no issues despite travelling alone—likely due to her status as a foreigner.
Previously, photos of Taliban members posing affectionately with Chinese female tourists also sparked widespread controversy.
