Sat Mar 15 06:59:04 UTC 2025: ## Turkmenistan’s Unwritten Ban: Young Women Effectively Barred From Driving

**Ashgabat, Turkmenistan –** Young women in Turkmenistan face an unofficial ban on obtaining driver’s licenses, despite the absence of any formal legislation prohibiting it. This de facto restriction forces many women to drive illegally, jeopardizing their safety and freedom.

According to a recent report in *The Hindu*, multiple women interviewed anonymously confirmed the widespread practice. While driving schools accept female students, instructors reportedly warn them of the near-impossibility of passing the driving test. One mother described teaching her 19-year-old daughter to drive in secluded areas to avoid police and cameras.

The informal ban, which primarily affects women under 30, is just one of many informal restrictions imposed by the Berdymukhamedov regime, which has ruled the country since 2006. Other bizarre rules include a ban on black cars, forcing owners to repaint them white, the favored color of the former president.

While authorities deny restricting women’s rights, citing the nation’s purported respect for women, the situation is met with widespread frustration among young women. They express their desire for independence and the practical benefits of driving, such as running errands and transporting family members.

One driving school contacted by AFP confirmed women’s right to take the exam, but later retracted their statement. Another instructor anonymously attributed the ban to a supposed increase in accidents caused by women who allegedly purchased licenses illegally – a claim yet to be verified. The Turkmen motor transport agency did not respond to requests for comment.

Further tightening of restrictions affects women over 30, who are required to present a marriage certificate, family record book, and employer’s report to register a car in their own name. This adds another layer of difficulty for women seeking to exercise basic freedoms. The situation highlights the limitations faced by women in Turkmenistan, a country consistently ranked among the world’s most repressive.

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