Taliban’s New Law in Afghanistan: Women Must Cover Up and Stay Silent
In August, the Taliban in Afghanistan announced a new law called the ‘Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.’ This law, issued by the Ministry for Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice, requires women to cover their entire bodies and faces. Women are also not allowed to speak or sing loudly enough for non-family members to hear.
The United Nations criticized this law, but the Taliban urged the UN not to compare Afghanistan with Western societies. The Taliban also said they would no longer cooperate with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) due to what they called ‘misleading propaganda.’
Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, stated that the UN would continue to engage with all groups in Afghanistan, including the Taliban. Hamidullah Fetrat, Deputy Spokesperson of the Islamic Emirate, also emphasized the importance of engagement to resolve challenges.
The new law, published in the official gazette, imposes the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic Sharia law. It states that women’s voices are considered ‘awrah,’ or intimate parts, and should only be heard in cases of necessity. The law also requires women to cover their entire bodies and faces to avoid temptation.
The law gives ombudsmen the responsibility to prevent drivers from playing music, using drugs, transporting women without hijab, and allowing women to sit with men who are not their relatives. The Taliban’s morality police, known as Muhtaseebs, have the authority to detain individuals for up to three days for violating these rules.
Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the law erases women’s presence in public and deprives them of their autonomy. She called for the law to be repealed, stating that it violates women’s fundamental human rights.
Rosemary di Carlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs of the UN, said the law further restricts human rights and freedoms, especially for women. She warned that it could impede Afghanistan’s return to the international community.
UNAMA expressed concern about the new law and is studying its implications. The Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General, Rosa Otunbayeva, said the law extends intolerable restrictions on Afghan women and girls. She is expected to brief the Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan on September 18.
Doubts Revealed
Taliban -: The Taliban is a group that controls Afghanistan. They have strict rules based on their interpretation of Islamic law.
Afghanistan -: Afghanistan is a country in Asia. It has been in the news a lot because of conflicts and strict rules.
United Nations -: The United Nations, or UN, is a group of countries that work together to solve world problems and help people.
Sharia law -: Sharia law is a set of religious rules followed by some Muslims. Different people have different interpretations of these rules.
morality police -: Morality police are people who make sure others follow certain rules about behavior and dress. In this case, they work for the Taliban.
fundamental human rights -: Fundamental human rights are basic freedoms and protections that every person should have, like the right to speak freely and be treated equally.
