Female travel influencers spark backlash after ‘glamourising’ Taliban-run Afghanistan where women live under a ‘gender apartheid’

It’s been four years since the Taliban returned to power and began erasing women from public life in Afghanistan.

But today, female travel influencers are gushing over their trips to Kabul despite Western countries strongly advising against travelling to a nation where the threat of terrorism and kidnapping is extremely high.

A small but growing number of content creators have been showcasing footage of life in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover – sharing footage of the country’s stunning landscapes and historic culture.

But while their content intrigues followers, it has sparked fury for oversimplifying or even glamourising a nation where women live under a ‘gender apartheid’.

Just days ago, Aussie influencer Chloe Baradinsky came under fire after posting clips painting an unrealistically positive picture of Afghanistan.

The 30-year-old is currently in the country and has been documenting her time there on social media.

Although Chloe acknowledges the country’s limitations in her videos, many have lambasted her for promoting travel to a place where women’s rights are so severely restricted.

In one clip she talks to the camera saying: ‘It’s day five in Afghanistan and yesterday I was allowed to drive. Women aren’t usually allowed to drive in Afghanistan. You rarely see a female driving.

‘We went to the blue lakes. It’s beautiful but women are sometimes allowed and sometimes not.

‘It changes very quickly. Women definitely aren’t allowed to swim. When we went it was 35 degrees and we just had to watch all of them swimming and that was obviously a classic example.

‘That just goes to show and that’s only five days here, imagine what it’s like if you live here as a female’.

She adds: ‘Overall it has been an incredible experience, everyone we have met has been very kind to us and we feel safe.’

In other videos Chloe can be seen touring striking mosques, visiting vibrant markets and feasting on local food.

Despite her claiming she feels ‘safe’, the UK Government strongly advises: ‘You should not travel to Afghanistan. The security situation is volatile. Travel throughout Afghanistan is extremely dangerous and border crossings may not be open. ‘

Since the Taliban took over the country there have been reports that Afghan women are being denied the opportunity to join the workforce, are not allowed to drive, and are deprived of their right to education.

The militant group also recently claimed women should cover one eye stating that ‘one eye is enough’ under Sharia law – a harsh Islamic legal system which permits flogging and the death penalty in some circumstances.

Meanwhile, officials have reportedly shut down beauty salons run by women in their homes and women’s radio stations in various provinces, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.

And, at one hospital, authorities ordered staff not to provide care to unaccompanied female patients.

Chloe’s videos have been met with fierce backlash – with viewers describing her behaviour as ‘disgraceful’ and ‘hideous’ in the comments section.

One person wrote: ‘You do know Chloe that women’s right’s in Afghanistan are at a stage where it’s been decided that women only need to see out of one eye and so will therefore be required to wear an eye patch under their burka. 

‘Hideous is what it is Chloe, do better.’

Another asked: ‘Why would you want to go somewhere that oppresses women?’

A third said: ‘And by traveling there, you are supporting this… not sure why you’d go while it’s under Taliban rule. 

‘Officials have reportedly shut down beauty salons run by women. At one hospital, authorities ordered staff not to provide care to unaccompanied female patients.’

A fourth added: ‘What possessed you as a woman to want to visit a place where women are ‘not allowed’ to do things? Genuinely curious.’

‘Oh yeah going to a country where women are treated so badly for a week and then going back to your safe country. Lovely,’ said someone else.

Another questioned: ‘why on earth would go and spend money in a country where women have zero rights now? that’s actually disgraceful, especially as a woman.’

But, although Chloe’s footage received many negative remarks, some praised her content.

‘This is amazing, loving these videos about these places of the world,’ one person said.

Another added: ‘As a Muslim girly I love how respectful you are and honest thank you… so much respect for you travelling without boundaries! A true travel vlogger.’  

Chloe isn’t the only influencer to spark controversy by encouraging tourism to Afghanistan. A German TikToker also landed herself in hot water recently.

Margaritta, 33, took a three-month solo trip in May 2024 to the country.

She praised the Afghan way of life and said she felt safe and even powerful as a woman during her visit.

While acknowledging that the Taliban had imposed strict laws on women, Margaritta, said she viewed them instead as a sign that ‘women have value, and they are valued as precious’.

In one TikTok, she stated that women were the ‘womb carriers,’ which means ‘any excellence a man demonstrates, he got from a woman near him.’ 

Her comments were echoed by 31-year-old Zoe Stephens, a British travel vlogger and tour guide from Liverpool, England, who has visited Afghanistan three times.

‘All we see of the women in Afghanistan is shapes behind burqas,’ she told NBC News. ‘But when I got there, I realized that … there’s a lot more nuance to it.’

Having spent time with some Afghan women in their homes she added that much of this was not on video or photographed because ‘it’s very private.’

Zoe regularly shares her experiences with over 70,000 followers on her Instagram accounts, @zoediscovers and @zoediscoversnk.

In one of her posts, Zoe is filmed laughing with local Afghan women as she explores lakes, mosques and mountain trails. 

In another she holds a selfie stick and leans out of the window as she drives through the countryside on a tour bus.

Internationally renowned Afghan activist and scholar Orzala Nemat, currently a visiting fellow at the London-based think tank Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), said that the surge of foreign influencers in Afghanistan was deeply concerning.

‘What we’re seeing instead is a curated, sanitized version of the country that conveniently erases the brutal realities faced by Afghan women under Taliban rule,’ Orzala told NBC News.

Afghanistan has seen a recent travel boost, four years after Taliban forces captured the capital city of Kabul on August 15, 2021, following the withdrawal of American troops under the Biden administration.

Deputy Minister of Tourism Qudratullah Jamal told The Associated Press (AP) that Afghanistan had nearly 9,000 foreign visitors last year — with 3,000 tourists in the first three months of this year.

 ‘Tourism brings many benefits to a country,’ he said. ‘We have considered those benefits and aim for our nation to take full advantage of them.’ 

United Nations educational, scientific and cultural organization director-general Audrey Azoulay told Fox News Digital in a statement that the Taliban has wiped out any gains for Afghan women.

 ‘This exclusion of women from public life in Afghanistan has disastrous consequences for the country’s long-term development,’ she said.