Taliban silences Afghan women with new laws

Taliban-led Afghan government has implemented stringent new regulations in Afghanistan, curtailing women’s presence in public spaces.

The rules, approved by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, aim to control various aspects of daily life, including public transportation, music, and interactions between genders.

Key provisions of new laws:

– Mandatory Veiling: Women must fully veil themselves in public, adhering to strict guidelines on clothing to prevent “temptation.”

– Restrictions on Women’s Voices: Women’s voices are now considered “intimate,” prohibiting them from singing, reciting, or reading aloud in public.

– Ban on Music: Music is strictly prohibited, deeming it a corrupting influence.

– Transportation Restrictions: Solo female travelers are banned from public transportation

– Gender Segregation: Unrelated men and women are prohibited from mixing in public.

The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice will enforce these new rules.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has expressed concern over these developments, citing an increasing climate of fear and intimidation, particularly for women and girls in Afghanistan.

These laws represent the first formal declaration of vice and virtue regulations since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.