Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers have implemented new laws aimed at combatting vice and promoting virtue in the country. These laws were approved by supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada and include restrictions on women’s voices and bare faces in public. The Taliban had set up a ministry for the “propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice” after seizing power in 2021. The vice and virtue laws cover various aspects of everyday life such as public transportation, music, shaving, and celebrations, and are the first formal declaration of such laws in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover.
The laws, detailed in a 114-page, 35-article document, empower the ministry to regulate personal conduct and administer punishments like warnings or arrest to those who allegedly break the laws. Women are specifically targeted by these laws, with Article 13 mandating that women veil their bodies at all times in public and avoid exposing their faces to prevent temptation. It is forbidden for women to sing, recite, or read aloud in public, as their voices are considered intimate. Additionally, women are required to cover themselves in front of non-Muslim males and females to prevent corruption. This ban on women’s voices and bare faces in public has been met with criticism and concern by human rights groups.
Article 17 of the vice and virtue laws bans the publication of images of living beings, further restricting freedom of expression in the already fragile Afghan media landscape. Article 19 prohibits the playing of music, solo female travelers in public transportation, and the mixing of unrelated men and women. Passengers and drivers are also required to perform prayers at designated times. The laws emphasize promoting virtue through prayer, aligning behavior with Islamic law, encouraging women to wear hijab, and promoting adherence to the five pillars of Islam. The elimination of vice involves prohibiting activities forbidden by Islamic law.
A U.N. report last month raised concerns about the ministry’s role in creating a climate of fear and intimidation among Afghans through its edicts and methods of enforcement. The report noted that the ministry’s authority was expanding into other areas of public life, including media monitoring and combating drug addiction. The head of the human rights service at the U.N. mission in Afghanistan expressed significant concern, especially for women and girls, given the implications of the ministry’s increasing oversight and control over public life. The Taliban have rejected the U.N. report and continue to enforce their vice and virtue laws.
Critics of the Taliban’s new laws argue that they infringe on basic human rights, particularly those of women, and restrict freedom of expression and personal autonomy. The restrictions on women’s voices and bare faces in public have been met with widespread condemnation, both domestically and internationally. Human rights groups continue to monitor the situation in Afghanistan closely and advocate for the protection of individuals’ rights and freedoms. The Taliban’s imposition of strict Islamic laws in the country has raised alarm among those concerned about the erosion of civil liberties and the potential impact on the lives of ordinary Afghans, especially women and marginalized communities.
