The Taliban has introduced a comprehensive set of laws aimed at promoting virtue and combating vice in Afghanistan, with far-reaching implications for women’s rights and freedoms. The 114-page document outlines 35 articles governing various aspects of everyday life, including public transportation, music, shaving, and celebrations. According to the laws, women are required to wear face coverings in public, deemed essential to avoid temptation and tempting others. This new restriction on women’s faces is seen by many as a step backward for their rights in the country.
The laws not only restrict women’s freedoms but also impose restrictions on men’s behavior, prohibiting them from listening to the voices of women in public and requiring them to perform prayers at designated times. Passengers and drivers are also required to perform prayers at designated times. Women are prohibited from singing, reciting poetry, or reading aloud in public, as their voices are considered intimate and not suitable for public consumption. The publication of images of living beings is also banned, which poses a threat to Afghanistan’s already fragile media terrain.
Taliban’s laws dampen women’s voices in Afghanistan’s public sphere (Image via Getty)
The laws have been widely criticized, with many arguing that they are intended to control the lives of women and suppress their rights. The restrictions on women’s voices and faces in public are seen by many as a further restriction on their freedom and a step backward for their rights in Afghanistan. The Taliban’s stated goal of promoting virtue and combating vice has not been achieved, but rather the laws have served to restrict the lives of women and girls in Afghanistan.
The United Nations has expressed concerns over the ministry’s role, which includes monitoring media and eradicating drug addiction, saying it is contributing to a climate of fear and intimidation among Afghans. The UN report notes that the ministry’s expansion into other areas of public life is a cause for significant concern for all Afghans, particularly women and girls. Critics argue that the Taliban’s efforts to combat vice and promote virtue are intended to control the lives of women and suppress their rights. The laws have sparked widespread criticism, with many arguing that they are a blow to women’s rights and freedoms.
