KABUL: A senior United Nations official has expressed grave concerns over the Taliban’s newly introduced vice and virtue laws, describing them as indicative of a “distressing vision” for Afghanistan’s future. The new regulations, which include a ban on women’s voices and bare faces in public, have provoked international alarm regarding the further erosion of women’s rights in the country.
Roza Otunbayeva, head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, voiced her deep apprehension on Sunday, noting that these laws exacerbate the already stringent restrictions imposed on women and girls. “Even the sound of a female voice outside the home now seems to be considered a moral violation,” Otunbayeva remarked.
The Taliban’s Vice and Virtue Ministry, which enforces these laws, issued its first set of regulations last Wednesday. The new laws mandate that women must conceal their faces, bodies, and voices while in public. The ministry has been given broad powers to regulate personal conduct and administer penalties, including warnings or arrests, for alleged violations.
Otunbayeva criticized the potential impact of these laws on Afghan society, stating, “After decades of war and amidst a devastating humanitarian crisis, the Afghan people deserve much better than to be threatened or jailed over minor infractions.” The UN mission is currently evaluating the implications of these laws for the Afghan population and their potential effects on UN and other humanitarian operations in the region.
In a televised statement, Mohammad Khaled Hanafi, the Taliban’s Vice and Virtue Minister, asserted that the laws are consistent with Islamic principles and pledged that women’s rights would be safeguarded. However, the international community remains skeptical, fearing that these measures will further isolate Afghanistan and exacerbate the crisis facing its people.
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