KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The Taliban’s Ministry for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice announced the arrest of seven individuals, including two women, in Kabul on allegations of “moral corruption.”
In a statement released today, October 29, the ministry reported that the arrests occurred in the 22nd district of Kabul. Following preliminary investigations, the detainees were transferred to the appropriate Taliban authorities for further action.
This incident marks the second series of arrests in Kabul since the implementation of the Taliban’s new morality law ratified in August. Earlier this month, six individuals were detained in the capital for alleged “illicit relationships.”
Rights groups warn that the newly enacted morality law has intensified pressure on women, leading to psychological issues such as insomnia, loss of hope and motivation, fear, aggression, isolation, and suicidal thoughts.
Taliban’s morality police have previously targeted women and young girls for not adhering to hijab regulations, a practice that has increased since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021. The enforcement of these strict moral codes raises significant concerns about the erosion of women’s rights and freedoms in Afghanistan.
The recent arrests come amid reports of escalating human rights violations under the Taliban regime. In his latest report, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, detailed instances of physical abuse, verbal harassment, and sexual assault faced by detainees in Taliban custody.
Bennett’s report indicates a troubling rise in gender-based violence in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control in August 2021. He expressed alarm over the worsening situation for women and girls, characterizing the Taliban’s treatment of them as a form of gender apartheid and advocating for recognition of gender apartheid as a crime against humanity.
