Islamic Public Administration in Practice: The Taliban's “Gender Apartheid” Governance in Afghanistan

This article analyzes the Taliban's post‐2021 governance model through the Islamic Public Administration (IPA) framework, focusing on justice, equality, and women's inclusion. It asks: (1) How does the Taliban's governance align with core IPA principles? and (2) What are the implications of such governance for Afghanistan's public administration, particularly for women? The study employs qualitative methods, combining document analysis with 30 semi‐structured interviews with former Afghan female officials. Findings demonstrate a significant divergence between IPA's ethical, inclusive, and participatory orientation and the Taliban's exclusionary and coercive governance. The regime's centralized authority, weak meritocracy, and systemic removal of women from public life contradict Islamic administrative values emphasizing justice and public welfare. Interviewees consistently described the Taliban's rule as a politicized distortion of Islam that institutionalizes patriarchy, with many characterizing current conditions as “gender apartheid.” The article contributes to debates on Islamic governance, administrative ethics, and gender, underscoring the urgent need for inclusive governance in Afghanistan and similar contexts.