The Taliban have officially codified a set of strict morality laws in Afghanistan, requiring women to cover their faces and men to grow beards. These rules, based on a 2022 order from the Taliban supreme leader, have now been published as law and will be enforced by the Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and the Propagation of Virtue. The move has drawn criticism from rights groups and the international community.
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Taliban imposes new morality law
The Taliban government in Afghanistan has formally enacted a 35-article morality law, mandating women to cover their faces and men to grow beards. The law, now officially published by the Ministry of Justice, stems from a 2022 order by supreme spiritual leader Haibatullah Akhundzada and will be enforced by the Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and the Propagation of Virtue.
Scope of the new rules
The new rules go beyond the dress code, including a ban on music in cars and a prohibition on transporting women without a male guardian. Media outlets are also required to comply with Sharia law, banning the publication of images depicting living creatures. Violations of these laws can result in penalties ranging from warnings to detention and property seizure.
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Criticism and international response
Rights groups and international observers have condemned these laws as a further erosion of women’s rights and personal freedoms in Afghanistan. Heather Barr of Human Rights Watch expressed concern over the formalisation of these rules, highlighting an ongoing crackdown on personal freedoms since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
