Rosalind Evans
Afghanistan’s Taliban government has introduced a new decree banning women’s voices and bare faces in public. The 114-page document, the first formal declaration of “vice and virtue” laws since the Taliban takeover, has sparked significant concern both within Afghanistan and internationally.
A New Era of Restrictions
The Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice released the new rules on Wednesday, marking a significant shift in the country’s public life. Approved by the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, the laws encompass various aspects of daily life, including public behavior, transportation, music, and social interactions.
“Inshallah, we assure you that this Islamic law will be of great help in the promotion of virtue and the elimination of vice,” stated ministry spokesman Maulvi Abdul Ghafar Farooq, reflecting the government’s commitment to enforcing these stringent regulations.
Strict Controls Over Women’s Public Presence
Article 13 of the document specifically addresses women’s conduct. It mandates that women cover their entire bodies in public, with a special emphasis on veiling the face. The law also dictates that clothing should not be thin, tight, or short to prevent temptation. It further bans women from speaking or singing in public, deeming a woman’s voice intimate and inappropriate for public hearing.
Women are also prohibited from looking at men who are not their close relatives, underscoring the Taliban’s restrictive interpretation of gender interactions. These measures, aimed at aligning public behavior with Islamic law, limit women’s freedom of movement and expression.
Impact on Media and Public Spaces
The new laws extend beyond personal conduct, affecting Afghanistan’s broader cultural landscape. Article 17 prohibits the publication of images of living beings, a restriction expected to significantly impact Afghan media. This, coupled with the ban on music and solo female travelers, reflects the Taliban’s vision of a conservative and highly controlled society.
The ministry has been empowered to administer warnings or arrests for those who violate these rules, placing it at the forefront of regulating personal conduct. This has created a climate of fear and intimidation among Afghan citizens, as highlighted by a recent U.N. report.
International Concerns and Human Rights Violations
The international community has expressed deep concern over the implications of these laws for the rights and freedoms of Afghan citizens, particularly women and girls. Fiona Frazer, head of the human rights service at the U.N. mission in Afghanistan, stated, “Given the multiple issues outlined in the report, the position expressed by the de facto authorities that this oversight will be increasing and expanding gives cause for significant concern for all Afghans, especially women, and girls.”
The Taliban’s approach to governance, characterized by stringent social controls, poses significant challenges to the progress made in women’s rights and freedom of expression in Afghanistan over the past two decades.
The Taliban’s latest decree marks a severe curtailment of personal freedoms, particularly for women, signaling a return to the restrictive social codes that defined their previous regime. As the world watches, the people of Afghanistan face an uncertain future under these new, restrictive laws. The international community’s response and the resilience of Afghan society will play crucial roles in shaping the path forward.
