Kabul: The Taliban has introduced a series of harsh new laws further curtailing women’s rights in Afghanistan, representing some of the most draconian measures since their return to power in 2021.
Approved by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, these regulations were unveiled on Wednesday as part of a comprehensive 114-page document issued by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. Under these new rules, women are required to cover their faces and bodies entirely in public, with the aim of preventing “temptation.”
Article 13 of the document mandates that women not only wear a full-body veil but also refrain from singing, reciting, or speaking loudly in public, as their voices are considered too intimate. Women are also barred from making eye contact with men who are not close relatives, and vice versa.
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The restrictions extend to public transportation, where music is banned and women are prohibited from traveling alone unless accompanied by a male guardian. Additionally, the publication of images depicting living beings is forbidden, further limiting media freedom in Afghanistan. The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue is tasked with enforcing these laws, including detaining individuals for violations.
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International organizations, including the United Nations, have raised serious concerns about these new laws. They warn that such restrictions could worsen the already critical human rights situation in the country, particularly for women and girls. The UN has highlighted the growing climate of fear and repression resulting from these measures.
