The Taliban has introduced a set of stringent new laws in Afghanistan, significantly impacting women’s presence in public spaces. Approved by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, these regulations, announced on Wednesday, address various aspects of daily life, including public transportation, music, and gender interactions.
Under the new rules, women are mandated to fully veil themselves in public, adhering to strict guidelines on clothing to minimize temptation. Women’s voices are now deemed “intimate,” prohibiting them from singing, reciting, or reading aloud in public.
This marks the first formal implementation of vice and virtue regulations since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, established at that time, will oversee the enforcement of these new laws, which also include bans on music, solo female travelers, and the mixing of unrelated men and women.
The UN has expressed concerns over these developments, noting an increasing climate of fear and intimidation, especially for women and girls in Afghanistan.
