The Taliban rulers in Afghanistan have imposed new laws that prohibit women from speaking in public and showing their faces. These laws were approved by the supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, and were issued by the newly established ministry for the “propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice.” The laws cover various aspects of daily life, such as public transportation, music, shaving, and celebrations. This 114-page, 35-article document represents the first formal declaration of vice and virtue laws in Afghanistan since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.
The laws were issued Wednesday after they were approved by supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, a government spokesman said. The Taliban had set up a ministry for the “propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice” after seizing power in 2021.
The ministry published its vice and virtue laws on Wednesday that cover aspects of everyday life like public transportation, music, shaving and celebrations.
They are set out in a 114-page, 35-article document seen by The Associated Press and are the first formal declaration of vice and virtue laws in Afghanistan since the takeover.
The Ministry is authorized to regulate personal conduct and administer punishments including warnings or arrest if Afghans violate the laws.
Article 13 relates to women. It says it is mandatory for a woman to veil her body at all times in public and that a face covering is essential to avoid temptation and tempting others. Clothing should not be thin, tight or short.
Women are obliged to cover themselves in front of non-Muslim males and females to avoid being corrupted. A woman’s voice is deemed intimate and so should not be heard singing, reciting, or reading aloud in public. It is forbidden for women to look at men they are not related to by blood or marriage and vice versa.
Article 17 bans the publication of images of living beings, threatening an already fragile Afghan media landscape.
Article 19 bans the playing of music, the transportation of solo female travelers, and the mixing of men and women who are not related to each other. The law also obliges passengers and drivers to perform prayers at designated times.
Per the ministry website, promoting virtue involves encouraging prayer, aligning the character and behavior of Muslims with Islamic law, promoting the wearing of hijab by women, and inviting people to adhere to the five pillars of Islam. Additionally, it mentions that eliminating vice involves prohibiting activities that are forbidden by Islamic law.
Last month, a U.N. report stated that the ministry was creating a climate of fear and intimidation among Afghans through its edicts and enforcement methods. The report also noted that the ministry’s influence was extending into other areas of public life, such as media monitoring and addressing drug addiction.
It said the ministry’s role was expanding into other areas of public life, including media monitoring and eradicating drug addiction.
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