Taliban Imposes Stricter Restrictions on Women’s Behavior and Appearance
Photo: What well-dressed women–by Taliban standards–are wearing in Afghanistan.
The Taliban leaders in Afghanistan have issued new restrictions on the behavior and appearance of women, prohibiting them from singing, reciting poetry, or speaking aloud in public, and mandating them to keep their faces and bodies covered at all times. Women are also not allowed to look at men unless related to them.
New "Vice and Virtue" Decree
The restrictions are part of a 35-article document published by the Taliban’s Justice Ministry on Wednesday, after approval from their reclusive supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada. The decree is the first formal declaration of the vice and virtue laws under the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law since they regained power in Afghanistan three years ago.
Restrictions on Women’s Freedom
The decree greatly restricts personal freedoms and religious practices, covering aspects of everyday life such as transportation, music, shaving, celebrations, and women’s behavior and appearance in public. The rules targeting female members of the Afghan society explain that a woman’s voice is deemed intimate and should not be heard singing, reciting poetry, or reading aloud in public. Women also are not allowed to look at men they are not related to by blood or marriage and vice versa.
Enforcement and Consequences
The legal document empowers the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice to enforce these rules across the impoverished, war-torn South Asian country. It can give warnings before imprisoning offenders for durations from one hour to three days, and it also may seize properties as a penalty if considered appropriate.
International Scrutiny
The actions of the Vice and Virtue Ministry are already under international scrutiny. The United Nations reported last month that the ministry’s ever-expanding policing of public morality was contributing to a climate of fear and intimidation among Afghans through edicts and the methods used to enforce them.
Impact on Media
One of the articles in the legal document released Wednesday bans the publication of images of living beings, which critics fear could further shrink media in Afghanistan, forcing the closure of television channels, digital media, and print newspapers. Media outlets are already suffering from Taliban-ordered censorship.
Other Restrictions
Another article prohibits playing music in public transport, the travel of female passengers unless accompanied by a male guardian, and the mingling of unrelated men and women. Additionally, passengers and drivers are required by law to observe designated prayer times. Men cannot shave beards or trim them to less than a fistful, although the law does not define what qualifies as an "Islamic" hairstyle.
Concerns and Consequences
Human rights activists feared the latest restrictions underscore a significant increase in the Taliban’s attempts to enforce their version of Islamic law, especially in suppressing and removing women from public life. The fundamentalist Taliban have already barred Afghan girls ages 12 and older from attending school and many women from public and private sector jobs, including United Nations agencies. No country has officially recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan, mainly over their harsh treatment of women.
Conclusion
The Taliban’s strict restrictions on women’s behavior and appearance are a significant blow to personal freedom and human rights in Afghanistan. The enforcement of these rules will likely lead to further shrinkage of media and women’s participation in public life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the restrictions imposed by the Taliban on women?
A: The restrictions include prohibition on singing, reciting poetry, or speaking aloud in public, and mandating them to keep their faces and bodies covered at all times.
Q: Who will enforce these restrictions?
A: The Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice will enforce these rules.
Q: What are the consequences of non-compliance?
A: Offenders can be imprisoned for durations from one hour to three days, and properties may be seized as a penalty if considered appropriate.
Q: Will the restrictions affect media?
A: Yes, the ban on the publication of images of living beings could further shrink media in Afghanistan, forcing the closure of television channels, digital media, and print newspapers.