Kabul, Afghanistan – Afghanistan’s Taliban regime has introduced a strict new set of vice and virtue laws, which include a controversial ban on women’s voices being heard in public spaces. The new regulations, approved by supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, were announced on Wednesday, further tightening the restrictions on women’s rights in the country.
Among the laws, Article 13 explicitly targets women, mandating that they must fully veil their bodies in public, with a face covering deemed essential to prevent “temptation.” The law also forbids women from singing, reciting, or reading aloud in public, as their voices are considered “intimate” and must not be heard.
These rules extend beyond just attire and speech. Women are now required to cover themselves even in the presence of non-Muslim men and women to avoid perceived corruption. The laws also prohibit women from looking at men who are not their relatives, and men are similarly restricted.
“Inshallah, we assure you that this Islamic law will greatly aid in the promotion of virtue and the elimination of vice,” stated Maulvi Abdul Ghafar Farooq, a spokesman for the ministry responsible for implementing these laws.
First Formal Declaration of Vice and Virtue Laws
This 114-page, 35-article document marks the Taliban’s first formal declaration of vice and virtue laws since they seized power in 2021. The laws empower the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice to regulate personal conduct rigorously, with punishments ranging from warnings to arrests for those found violating the new rules.
The laws also impose bans on the publication of images of living beings, further restricting Afghanistan’s already fragile media landscape. Additionally, the playing of music, transportation of solo female travelers, and mixing of unrelated men and women in public spaces have been prohibited. Drivers and passengers are also required to perform prayers at designated times.
The Taliban’s vice and virtue ministry, according to its website, aims to promote behaviors aligned with Islamic law, encourage the wearing of hijab among women, and enforce the five pillars of Islam. The ministry is also tasked with eliminating actions forbidden by Islamic law.
International Concerns and Rejection of U.N. Report
The introduction of these laws has sparked significant concern internationally, particularly regarding the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. Last month, a U.N. report highlighted the ministry’s role in fostering a climate of fear and intimidation among Afghans, noting its expanding influence over public life, including media and efforts to combat drug addiction.
Fiona Frazer, head of the human rights service at the U.N. mission in Afghanistan, expressed alarm over the increasing oversight and control exerted by the Taliban, stating it “gives cause for significant concern for all Afghans, especially women and girls.”
The Taliban, however, have rejected the U.N. report, standing firm on their new regulations.
