The Taliban rulers of Afghanistan have introduced a strict new set of laws that include a ban on women’s voices and visible faces in public.
These laws have been approved by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and aim to regulate various aspects of daily life, such as public transport, music and social interactions.
The new rules, passed Wednesday in a 114-page document, represents the first formal declaration of vices and virtues since the Taliban took power in 2021.
One article targets women specifically, demanding that they must always cover their bodies in public, with face coverings considered essential to prevent temptation.
The laws dictate that women’s clothing should not be thin, tight or short, and women must veil in front of all strangers and non-Muslims to avoid being “corrupted”.
In addition, a woman’s voice is considered intimate, and therefore it is forbidden for women to sing, recite or read aloud in public. The rules also prohibit women from looking at men they are not related to by blood or marriage, and vice versa.
The laws also prohibit the publication of images of living creatures, restrict the playing of music, and prohibit the carriage of lone female travelers.
They also require passengers and drivers to offer prayers at set times, with officials able to administer punishments or arrest those deemed to have broken the laws.
“Inshallah, we assure you that this Islamic law will be of great help in promoting virtue and eliminating vices,” said ministry spokesman Maulvi Abdul Ghafar Farooq.
The United Nations recently released a report criticizes the ministry’s growing role in public life, states that its actions have contributed to a climate of fear and intimidation among Afghans, particularly women and girls.
The Taliban have since rejected the UN report and continue to enforce their restrictive measures despite widespread international criticism.
With News Wire Services