UN Expresses Concern Over New Morality Law in Afghanistan Imposed by Taliban
The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has raised serious concerns about a new morality law imposed by the Taliban. This law, known as the Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, includes 35 articles that restrict personal conduct and grant broad enforcement powers to morality police.
UNAMA’s Statement
Roza Otunbayeva, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), stated, “UNAMA is concerned by the promulgation by Afghanistan’s de facto authorities of a morality law which imposes wide-ranging and far-reaching restrictions on personal conduct and provides morality police with broad powers of enforcement.”
She emphasized that the law imposes intolerable restrictions on the rights of Afghan women and girls. “It extends the already intolerable restrictions on the rights of Afghan women and girls, with even the sound of a female voice outside the home apparently deemed a moral violation,” Otunbayeva added.
Details of the Law
The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, established in 2021 after the Taliban’s takeover, released the legislation. Ministry spokesman Maulvi Abdul Ghafar Farooq stated, “Inshallah, we assure you that this Islamic law will be of great help in the promotion of virtue and the elimination of vice.” The laws were endorsed by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.
Article 13 of the law specifies that women must cover their entire bodies, including their faces, in public. The commonly worn hijab, which covers only the hair and neck, is no longer acceptable. Women are also prohibited from singing, reciting, or reading aloud in public, as their voices are considered “intimate.” Additionally, women cannot look at men who are not related to them by blood or marriage, and vice versa. Violations can result in warnings, property confiscation, or detention for up to three days.
The ministry has already detained thousands for breaches of similar morality standards.
Doubts Revealed
UN -: UN stands for United Nations. It is an international organization that works to promote peace, security, and cooperation among countries.
Morality Law -: A morality law is a set of rules that tells people how to behave based on what is considered right and wrong by those who made the law.
Taliban -: The Taliban is a group in Afghanistan that follows strict Islamic rules and took control of the country. They make and enforce laws based on their beliefs.
UNAMA -: UNAMA stands for United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. It is a part of the UN that helps with peace and development in Afghanistan.
Roza Otunbayeva -: Roza Otunbayeva is the head of UNAMA. She is responsible for leading the UN’s efforts in Afghanistan.
Hibatullah Akhundzada -: Hibatullah Akhundzada is the leader of the Taliban. He makes important decisions and rules for the group.
Full-body coverings -: Full-body coverings are clothes that cover a person’s entire body, leaving only the eyes visible. In this case, it refers to what women in Afghanistan are required to wear by the new law.