The Taliban has imposed a series of harsh new laws further restricting the rights of women in Afghanistan, marking some of the most severe measures since they reclaimed power in 2021. These laws, approved by Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, were announced on Wednesday and are detailed in a comprehensive 114-page document issued by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice.

Strict Dress Codes and Public Behavior Restrictions

Under the new regulations, Afghan women are now required to cover their faces and bodies completely when in public, a measure justified by the Taliban as necessary to prevent “temptation.” Article 13 of the document goes even further, prohibiting women from singing, reciting, or speaking loudly in public, with the reasoning that their voices are too intimate to be heard by others. Additionally, women are banned from looking at men who are not their close relatives, and men are similarly restricted from looking at women outside their family.

Tighter Controls on Public Life

The new laws also impose strict rules on public transportation, including a ban on music and a requirement that women cannot travel alone unless accompanied by a male guardian. The Taliban has also prohibited the publication of images of living beings, significantly tightening controls on Afghanistan’s media and cultural landscape.

International Concerns and Human Rights Implications

The international community has reacted with alarm to the Taliban’s latest actions, with several organizations, including the United Nations, expressing deep concern. The UN has warned that these restrictions could worsen the already dire human rights situation in Afghanistan, particularly for women and girls, who face an increasingly oppressive environment under the Taliban’s rule.

As these new laws take effect, the climate of fear in Afghanistan continues to grow, with women and girls bearing the brunt of the Taliban’s stringent policies.