The Taliban government in Afghanistan has introduced strict new laws requiring women to wear veils and imposing severe restrictions on their public roles. These laws, approved by the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, are part of ongoing efforts to enforce what the regime calls “virtue” and curb “vice.”
Under the new laws, it is mandatory for women to cover their entire bodies, including their faces, when in public.The legislation specifies that clothing should not be thin, tight, or short, and a face covering is deemed essential to prevent “temptation” and to avoid tempting others. Additionally, the laws prohibit women from looking at men who are not their relatives by blood or marriage, and vice versa.
The laws also declare that a woman’s voice is considered “intimate,” banning women from singing, reciting poetry, or reading aloud in public. This effectively silences women in any public or social setting, severely limiting their participation in cultural and social activities.
The new regulations are part of a broader 114-page, 35-article document issued by the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. This ministry, which was re-established after the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, now holds significant power in enforcing these laws across Afghanistan.
Article 17 of the document bans the publication of images of living beings, posing a further threat to the already fragile Afghan media landscape. Article 19 prohibits the playing of music, transportation of solo female travelers, and the mixing of men and women who are not related to each other. The laws also require passengers and drivers to perform prayers at designated times, reinforcing the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic practices.
Growing concerns from the international community
These new laws have sparked significant concern among international human rights organizations. A recent United Nations report highlighted the growing climate of fear and intimidation in Afghanistan, exacerbated by the Taliban’s enforcement methods. The report warned that the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice is increasingly expanding its influence into other areas of public life, including media monitoring and drug eradication efforts.
Under the new laws, it is mandatory for women to cover their entire bodies, including their faces, when in public.The legislation specifies that clothing should not be thin, tight, or short, and a face covering is deemed essential to prevent “temptation” and to avoid tempting others. Additionally, the laws prohibit women from looking at men who are not their relatives by blood or marriage, and vice versa.
The laws also declare that a woman’s voice is considered “intimate,” banning women from singing, reciting poetry, or reading aloud in public. This effectively silences women in any public or social setting, severely limiting their participation in cultural and social activities.
The new regulations are part of a broader 114-page, 35-article document issued by the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. This ministry, which was re-established after the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, now holds significant power in enforcing these laws across Afghanistan.
Article 17 of the document bans the publication of images of living beings, posing a further threat to the already fragile Afghan media landscape. Article 19 prohibits the playing of music, transportation of solo female travelers, and the mixing of men and women who are not related to each other. The laws also require passengers and drivers to perform prayers at designated times, reinforcing the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic practices.
Growing concerns from the international community
These new laws have sparked significant concern among international human rights organizations. A recent United Nations report highlighted the growing climate of fear and intimidation in Afghanistan, exacerbated by the Taliban’s enforcement methods. The report warned that the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice is increasingly expanding its influence into other areas of public life, including media monitoring and drug eradication efforts.