The Taliban has introduced new regulations in Afghanistan that impose severe restrictions on women’s public presence, including bans on showing their faces and having their voices heard. Announced on Wednesday, these measures mark some of the strictest controls imposed on women since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
The new laws, detailed in a 114-page document released by the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, reflect the group’s stringent interpretation of Islamic principles. Article 13 of the document mandates that women must cover their entire bodies, including their faces, in public to prevent “temptation.”
Additionally, the regulations prohibit women from speaking or singing in public, citing a woman’s voice as private and undesired in public spaces. The laws also forbid women from making eye contact with men who are not their relatives and ban the publication of images of living beings, which could further impact Afghanistan’s already struggling media landscape.
Taliban’s Latest Regulations
The new restrictions extend to banning music and solo travel by women, as well as prohibiting interactions between unrelated men and women. The laws also require both passengers and drivers to stop for prayers at designated times.
The United Nations has expressed deep concern over these developments, noting that the restrictions could exacerbate the difficulties faced by women and girls in Afghanistan. A recent UN report highlighted that the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice is instilling fear and intimidation across the country, with potential serious consequences for Afghan society.
The international community has been criticized for its perceived lack of response to these escalating restrictions. Advocates and observers continue to call for greater action and support for Afghan women, emphasizing the urgent need for global intervention to address what many see as a grave violation of human rights and gender equality.