In recent, Afghanistan’s Taliban government has officially introduced morality laws, expanding the scope of its regulations on personal conduct and public behavior. The new laws, expressed by the Taliban’s Supreme Spiritual Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, and published by the Justice Ministry on Wednesday, codify the strict requirements for both men and women under the guise of enforcing Islamic Sharia law.
Key Provisions of the New Morality Laws
The 35-article document outlines extensive regulations, many of which further restrict the freedoms of women and shape public behavior in Afghanistan. Women are now mandated to cover their faces and bodies entirely in public, with attire requirements specified to prevent "temptation". They are prohibited from singing, reciting poetry, or speaking aloud in public—a move critics argue further suppresses female expression and presence in society.
Men, under the new laws, are required to maintain beards and are forbidden from skipping prayers or fasting during Ramadan. The laws also impose restrictions on public transport, including a ban on playing music and a requirement for women to be accompanied by a male guardian. Additionally, media outlets are prohibited from publishing images of living beings, which raises concerns about further diminishing media freedom in the country.
Enforcement & Penalties
The Taliban's Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Propagation of Virtue, responsible for enforcing these new laws, has reportedly detained over 13,000 individuals in the past year for various offenses. The enforcement measures include warnings, verbal threats, and detention ranging from one hour to three days. Severe cases may lead to court proceedings and additional penalties, including property confiscation.
Heather Barr, Associate Director of Human Rights Watch’s Women’s Rights Division, expressed concern over the formalization of these laws, noting it signals a "steady and gradual escalation" of restrictions that have been increasingly enforced over the past three years.
International and Domestic Reactions
The Taliban’s actions have drawn sharp criticism from international human rights groups and foreign governments, which have been urging the regime to reverse its stance on women’s rights and reopen high schools for girls. Critics argue that the new laws exacerbate the already worde situation for women and girls in Afghanistan, who have loosed their rights since the Taliban's return to power in 2021.
A 37-year-old Kabul resident, Halema, criticized the international community for its perceived inaction, suggesting that the silence on the Taliban's policies encourage the regime to impose increasingly harsh restrictions.
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Impact on Afghan Society & Media
The latest regulations are expected to further restrictions on public and media freedoms in Afghanistan. The ban on publishing images of living beings could severely impact the country’s media landscape, already suffering from Taliban-imposed censorship. Additionally, the prohibitions on music and mixed-gender interactions are likely to contribute to a climate of fear and repression.
The UN has condemned the expanding role of the Taliban's morality police, warning that their actions contribute to a pervasive atmosphere of intimidation and control. Despite these concerns, the Taliban has defended its policies as necessary for upholding their interpretation of Sharia law.
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The formalization of the Taliban’s morality laws marks a significant shift in Afghanistan’s legal landscape, further tightening the regime's grip on personal freedoms and public conduct. As these regulations take effect, they will likely continue to draw both domestic and international scrutiny, highlighting ongoing tensions between the Taliban’s vision of governance and global human rights standards.
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