Restrictions imposed by the Taliban curb women's public expression
In Afghanistan, women have been struggling through challenging circumstances, but the Taliban's newest regulations have made their existence even more arduous. As per these regulations, women are hardly given the chance to publicly express themselves and are also expected to control their eye contact.
The Taliban recently released a set of laws, as reported by AP news agency, with Article 13 of the code of virtues and vices specifically mentioning that a woman's voice is intimate and should not be utilized for singing, recitation, or loud reading in public spaces. This 114-page document, which was approved by Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, was published on Wednesday after being affirmed by a Taliban spokesperson. This marked the first formal announcement of the so-called virtues and vices laws since the Taliban seized power in the summer of 2021.
Following this, the Taliban established a form of morality police, called the Ministry for the "Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice". They now have the authority to issue warnings or impose penalties for any violations of these regulations. These laws govern various aspects of daily life, such as music use, celebrations, and public transportation.
Article 13 also requires women to always cover their faces in public to deter temptation and prevent others from being led astray. Clothing must be modest, without being too revealing, tight-fitting, or short. Afghan women must also cover themselves in front of non-Muslim men and women to prevent corruption. In addition, a woman is forbidden from staring at men outside her family or husband.
Media voices concerns
Article 17 prohibits the dissemination of images of living beings. This new rule is likely to weaken the already struggling Afghan media even more. According to Article 19, the playing of music is prohibited, while women are not allowed to travel alone. Furthermore, mixing of unrelated men and women is also prohibited.
As early as July, a UN mission in Afghanistan report suggested that a climate of fear and intimidation had engulfed certain sections of the population due to the morality police. Some of the methods used to enforce these decrees were seen as violating human rights and freedoms. The Taliban's Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has expressed an intention to expand its powers to other aspects of daily life, which has raised serious concerns for all Afghans, particularly women and girls, according to Fiona Frazer, the UN mission's human rights chief. The Taliban denied these reports.
The Taliban's new regulations, as outlined in Article 19, prohibit women from traveling alone, further limiting their freedom and autonomy. This situation, along with the ban on music and mixed-gender interactions, has led to concerns among the international community, viewing these measures as a violation of the 'Other' fundamental human rights and freedoms.
The Taliban's Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, with its plans to expand its powers, has sparked apprehension among many Afghans, including women and girls, about the potential infringement upon their 'Other' basic rights and liberties.
