Life as a woman in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan just got even more restrictive as a government ministry enacts new laws on “vice and virtue” in the country, banning women’s voices and uncovered faces from public life.
The laws were issued Wednesday by the ministry for the “propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice,” which was established in 2021 after the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan. That was the year the US military and other western powers, including Canada, evacuated the country, leaving behind a power vacuum quickly filled by the militant group. Many Afghans who worked for western powers, including drivers and interpreters, were left behind in the chaotic departure.
Article 13 of the document concerns women, and lays out how a woman should clothe and conduct herself in public. It is now mandatory for women to veil their entire bodies, including their faces, at all times in public to avoid temptation and tempting others. This means that the common Islamic head-covering, the hijab, which covers the hair and neck but not the face, is no longer considered appropriate.
Women are also forbidden from singing, reciting and reading aloud in public, as a woman’s voice is deemed “intimate” and should not be heard. It’s unclear if speaking is also banned. The laws also note that women cannot look at men they are not related to by blood or marriage and vice versa.
Breaking these rules could result in warnings, confiscations of property or detention of up to three days. The ministry has already been enforcing similar morality requirements and says it has detained thousands of people for violations.
The new laws come after the Taliban already placed harsh restrictions on women’s freedoms after the takeover. In 2022, the group banned women from attending school after the sixth grade, when previously, women could attend high schools and universities.
One woman from Afghanistan, who was one year away from graduating with a law degree, told Global News last year that she “couldn’t speak for a few minutes” after learning that she would have to abandon her education.
The Taliban also banned women from working at non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in 2022. Another woman who spoke to Global News said her family was plunged into poverty after she had to give up her job at an NGO.
Apart from the new restrictions on women, the laws passed on Wednesday also ban the playing of music and bar men from shaving their beards as well as skipping prayer and religious fasts. The laws also instruct drivers to not transport women without a male guardian, and passengers and drivers must perform prayers at designated times.
Media in Afghanistan must now abide by Sharia law, meaning the publication of images depicting living beings is forbidden, in line with the Islamic prohibition of idolatry.
A UN report said the ministry was contributing to a climate of fear and intimidation among Afghans through edicts and the methods used to enforce them. 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 rejected the UN report.
Conclusion:
The new laws passed by the Taliban aim to enforce a strict interpretation of Sharia law, which will have far-reaching consequences for women and girls in Afghanistan. These restrictions are not only a violation of their basic human rights but also a tool to control and suppress their fundamental freedoms. The international community must come together to condemn these laws and work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society in Afghanistan.
FAQs:
Q: What are the new laws passed by the Taliban?
A: The laws ban women from unveiling their faces in public, prohibit women from singing and reading aloud, and restrict women from looking at men who are not related to them.
Q: Why are these laws being imposed?
A: The Taliban claims these laws are necessary to promote virtue and prevent vice, but critics argue that they are a tool to control and suppress women’s rights.
Q: What are the implications of these laws?
A: These laws will have a devastating impact on women and girls in Afghanistan, restricting their ability to participate in public life and further marginalizing them.
Q: What can be done to support women in Afghanistan?
A: The international community can support women in Afghanistan by continuing to condemn these laws and providing aid and assistance to organizations that promote women’s rights and human rights.