New Law by Taliban Leader: Women's Voices, Even When Reciting the Quran, Are Prohibited

Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban, has issued new laws under the title 'Law of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' to be implemented by the Taliban government, which includes restrictions on women's voices and faces. According to a report from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Afghanistan service, this new law, which the Taliban leader communicated to the 'Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' on Wednesday, August 30, encompasses many aspects of Afghan people's lives, especially women. Article 13 of the new law, announced by the Taliban's Ministry of Justice, states that covering all of women's bodies is 'mandatory' and that 'for fear of sedition, covering women's faces is essential.' The law also states that a woman's voice, even when reciting the Quran, is considered 'awrah' (nakedness), is against Islamic law, and is prohibited. The Associated Press reported that the 114-page, 35-article document of the new Taliban law is the first official codified document regarding 'Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan. Abdul Ghafar Farooq, spokesperson for the Taliban's Ministry of Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, said on Thursday that the Taliban assures that 'this Islamic law will greatly help promote virtue and prevent vice.' However, groups of women and girls within Afghanistan have labeled this Taliban law as 'strict restrictions on Afghan women.' Two women residing in Kabul and Nimroz provinces, in an interview with Radio Liberty, criticized the imposition of these laws that make life difficult for them, stating that 'the Taliban wants to attract the world's attention by imposing strict laws.' Heather Barr, deputy director of the Asia division at Human Rights Watch, also described the new Taliban law in Afghanistan as a restriction on women's human rights and stated that the international community has 'emboldened the Taliban to do this.' Heather Barr noted that the recent law is a continuation of the Taliban's oppressive decrees over the past three years, adding: 'It is now clear that the Taliban feel more powerful and emboldened and are continuing on their path with great enthusiasm.' The Taliban government in Afghanistan has recently entered its fourth year but continues to struggle with a legitimacy crisis. During this time, the Taliban has failed to convince the international community to cooperate in lifting Afghanistan from international isolation while generally trampling fundamental rights and failing to meet the civil demands of the Afghan people, especially women and girls. Ensuring women's rights, freedom of expression, establishing an inclusive government, and gaining domestic legitimacy are among the conditions the international community has set for recognizing the Taliban government.