The recent announcement by the Taliban authorities in Kabul regarding the enforcement of a new moral code has sparked concerns among the international community and the people of Afghanistan. The 35-point law, announced on August 21st by the Ministry of Justice, imposes strict regulations on various aspects of daily life, particularly targeting women and their behavior in public spaces.
According to the law, women are required to fully cover themselves and are prohibited from raising their voices in public. The regulations extend beyond behavior to clothing and social interactions, including rules on men’s attire, beard length, and bans on homosexuality, gambling against animals, playing music in public, and non-Islamic holidays.
The United Nations (UN), human rights groups, and the people of Afghanistan have expressed concerns that the law could lead to increased enforcement of regulations on behavior and lifestyle, many of which have already been informally implemented since the Taliban took power in 2021 and enforced strict Sharia laws.
In response to these concerns, the Taliban government has assured that the law will be enforced „gently,“ with a focus on educating the public and guiding them towards compliance. Deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat stated, „I must clarify that violence and oppression will not be used when implementing these regulations. It will be done very gently, detailing the understanding of the public and guiding them.“
The European Union (EU) has expressed shock at the new decision, labeling it as further tightening restrictions on the lives of the Afghan people. EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrel urged the Taliban to stop the systematic and systemic abuse of women and children, warning that the legislation constitutes gender-based persecution and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
The Taliban government has consistently rejected international criticism of its fundamentalist policies, including restrictions on women labeled by the UN as ‚gender apartheid.‘ Under the law, moral police under the Ministry of Welfare and Prevention of Vice can impose punishments ranging from verbal warnings to fines and detention for various periods.
Meanwhile, the Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, Roza Otunbayeva, has described the law as a bleak vision for the future of Afghanistan, where moral police have unchecked authority to threaten and detain anyone based on a vague and extensive list of violations.
In conclusion, the enforcement of the new moral code in Kabul has raised serious concerns both domestically and internationally. The impact of these regulations on the rights and freedoms of the Afghan people, particularly women and children, remains a pressing issue that requires attention and action from the global community.