A new episode of repression by the Taliban government has emerged as Afghanistan's leaders have ratified a stringent morality law that enforces severe restrictions on women's rights. This new legislation, consisting of 35 articles, includes prohibitions against women singing or reading aloud in public, as their voices are deemed intimate. The Taliban's Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (PVPV) is tasked with enforcing these laws, which aim to combat vice and promote virtue according to the regime's interpretation of Islamic law.
The law mandates that women must cover their bodies entirely in the presence of non-family men and wear a mask over their mouths when leaving the house. Additional restrictions include prohibiting women from driving, listening to music, or being in the presence of men who are not family members. The regulations extend to men as well, who are not allowed to wear ties or trim their beards below a certain length. Violations of these laws can result in severe penalties, including detention and public humiliation.
This is the first formal declaration of laws concerning morality since the Taliban regained control in August 2021. The international community, including the United Nations, has condemned these measures, labeling the situation for Afghan women as 'gender apartheid.' The UN rapporteur has described the conditions for women in Afghanistan as the worst globally, highlighting the extreme restrictions imposed by the Taliban's regime.
