Afghanistan’s Taliban regime has introduced a new set of draconian laws that severely restrict women’s rights, banning them from showing their faces and speaking in public. The laws, which were approved by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, came into effect on Wednesday and are ostensibly aimed at “combating vice and promoting virtue.”
The Taliban’s Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, established after the group’s takeover in 2021, is behind the new regulations. The ministry has been instrumental in enforcing the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law, which has led to a significant erosion of women’s rights in the country.
The United Nations has condemned the new laws, with Roza Otunbayeva, head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, expressing her distress at the “distressing vision” they present for the country’s future. Otunbayeva criticized the laws for threatening Afghans with punishment for minor infractions, such as being late for prayers or possessing a photograph of a loved one.
The Taliban has dismissed international criticism of the laws, but the Embassy of Japan in Afghanistan has reiterated its deep concern over the restrictions on women and girls. In a statement, the embassy urged the Taliban to listen to the voices of Afghan women and girls, who are calling for education, employment, and freedom of movement. The embassy vowed to continue working with the international community to promote the rights of Afghan women and girls.
