Taliban security forces barred female United Nations employees from entering the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) office in Kabul on Sunday, according to a source who spoke to Afghanistan International.

The source said the women were told they could not report to work under orders from Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban’s supreme leader.

Afghanistan International sought comment from the UN mission in Kabul, but no response was immediately available.

According to the source, Taliban officials informed female UNAMA staff that they were prohibited from working outside the home. Following the incident, UNAMA placed its female employees on leave until further notice.

Taliban forces also blocked female staff from entering several other UNAMA offices, the source added. The restriction remains in place and could be extended to all UNAMA facilities across Afghanistan.