The Taliban has rejected criticism and concerns over its new morality law, which imposes extensive restrictions on personal freedom and lifestyle, particularly targeting women.
Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban’s chief spokesperson, dismissed objections to the vice and virtue laws as “baseless.” He asserted that the regulations are grounded in “Islamic principles” and are based on “Hanafi jurisprudence.”
In a statement released on August 26, Mujahid cautioned against “arrogance” from those unfamiliar with Islamic Sharia law, particularly non-Muslims who might oppose the regulations.
“We call for a thorough understanding of these laws and a respectful acknowledgment of Islamic values,” Mujahid said. “Rejecting these laws without such understanding reflects arrogance.”
Roza Otunbayeva, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNAMA, described the law as offering a “distressing vision” for Afghanistan’s future. She criticized the law for giving moral police broad discretionary powers to intimidate and detain individuals based on vague and broad lists of infractions.
She further noted that the law intensifies the already unbearable restrictions on Afghan women and girls, with even the sound of a female voice outside the home considered a moral violation.
Otunbayeva emphasized that international efforts to engage constructively with the Taliban are aimed at advancing peace and prosperity, where all citizens enjoy rights rather than being subjected to control. She warned that the increased restrictions and climate of fear will hinder this goal.
Mujahid slammed UNAMA’s criticisms, labeling them as “unjustified.”
The Taliban announced the new vice and virtue laws last Wednesday, mandating that women should not speak in public places and wear clothing that completely covers their bodies and faces to avoid temptation and tempting others. Clothing, the group said, should not be thin, tight or short.
The laws also require that drivers do not transport women without a male companion present. They require media outlets to adhere to Sharia law and prohibit the publication of images featuring living beings.
For men, the law prohibits them from shaving their beards, skipping prayers, or missing religious fasts.
Additionally, the laws restrict various activities, such as celebrating Nowruz and Yalda Night, using fireworks.
These regulations are part of a broader trend of draconian gender rules that have effectively erased women and girls from public life. Under Taliban rule, women and girls have been stripped of their basic rights and freedoms, which the UN has characterized as “gender apartheid.”
The regime’s law has faced substantial criticism from various countries, which view it as a new effort by the Taliban to oppress the population, especially women and girls.
