The Taliban’s moral watchdogs are expanding their surveillance of everyday life in Afghanistan. A new set of rules were created for this purpose, for example, women should not raise their voices loudly in public. Watching videos or pictures depicting creatures is also prohibited.
Taliban-ruled Afghanistan has already introduced a “decency” law to enforce strict codes of conduct monitored by the moral police.
The Justice Ministry announced on Wednesday that Taliban Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhunzada had approved a law requiring veils for women and banning homosexuality. It was already published in the official journal at the end of July.
The law strengthens the Taliban’s moral police, which has been monitoring the Taliban’s code of conduct based on Islamic Sharia law since its return to power in 2021. Among other things, it stipulates that “Muslim women must cover their faces and bodies” in the presence of men who are not directly related to them.
A woman’s voice is “close”
A woman’s voice is private, so she should not sing, recite or read aloud in public, according to Article 13 of the Rules of Vice and Virtue, obtained by The Associated Press.
So men should wear at least knee-length trousers. They should also have a beard which should not be too short. Homosexual relationships, prostitution and gambling are prohibited, as is creating and viewing videos or images depicting animals.
Missing prayers and disobeying parents can also be punished. According to the new law, the media will not be allowed to broadcast content that “violates the laws of Sharia and religion”, “insults Muslims” or depicts “animals”.
There is a risk of imprisonment
The moral police can impose warnings, threats, fines, pre-trial detention of up to three days or other sanctions for violations. If the offense is repeated, the accused may be tried.
The UN Assistance Mission for Afghanistan (UNAMA) has already accused moral watchdogs of creating a “climate of fear” in Afghanistan.
After years of Western military presence, the radical Islamist Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in August 2021 and declared the so-called Islamic Emirate.
Since then, they have enforced a strict interpretation of Islam with strict laws and, in particular, restricted women’s rights. The Taliban have been isolated internationally. So far no state has recognized Islamic rulers as the legitimate government of Afghanistan.
AFP/AP/lk
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