The Taliban government in Afghanistan has introduced a series of stringent laws that further restrict women’s visibility and activities in public, according to a report by the Associated Press. These measures are part of the Taliban’s broader agenda to enforce ‘virtue’ within the country.
The new regulations come from the ministry dedicated to the ‘prevention of vice,’ which was established following the Taliban’s takeover after the departure of US and coalition forces in 2021. The ministry recently released a comprehensive 114-page rulebook detailing the new vice and virtue guidelines that impact various aspects of daily life, including public transportation, music, and personal attire.
Approved by Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, the laws mandate that all women must cover their bodies entirely in public, with face coverings required to ‘prevent temptation and temptation of others.’ Clothing worn by women must not be thin, tight, or short, with non-compliance potentially leading to arrest.
In addition, the regulations prohibit women from singing, reciting poetry, or reading aloud in public, as their voices are considered too intimate. Women are also barred from looking at men who are not relatives, and vice versa.
The new laws extend to banning music, forbidding women from traveling alone, and restricting social interactions between unrelated men and women.
The United Nations has raised concerns about the impact of these regulations on the Afghan populace. Last month, a UN report highlighted that the ministry’s actions are fostering a climate of fear, particularly affecting women and girls. Fiona Frazer, head of the UN human rights service in Afghanistan, expressed alarm over the Taliban’s increasing and expanding oversight, stating it poses significant concerns for the rights and freedoms of all Afghans.
