The Taliban government in Afghanistan has recently announced the codification of laws that detail strict rules of behavior and lifestyle based on their interpretation of Islamic law. This 35-article law, published in the official gazette on July 31, establishes prohibitions that are already known in the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, but its enactment could lead to increased control over the population.
The justice ministry, in a statement on its website, announced that the law had been approved by the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, who rules by decree from Kandahar. The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, responsible for enforcing the law, has been a visible presence on Afghan streets since the Taliban authorities came to power in 2021.
The law covers a wide range of issues, including social interactions, private lives, and dress codes. The morality police, as they are commonly known, will play a significant role in enforcing religious laws in Afghanistan, according to a UN report that highlighted the „climate of fear“ created by the Taliban government.
One of the key provisions of the law is the requirement for Muslim women to cover their faces and bodies when in the presence of men who are not mahrams or non-Muslim women. Women are also instructed to cover themselves fully when leaving their homes out of necessity. Men are prohibited from wearing shorts above the knee and are required to maintain a certain length of beard.
The law also imposes restrictions on vehicle drivers, including a ban on playing music, carrying drugs, or transporting unveiled women. Other prohibitions include bans on homosexuality, missing prayers, adultery, gambling, animal fighting, disobeying parents, and creating or viewing images of living beings on electronic devices.
Media outlets are also subject to strict regulations under the law. They are prohibited from publishing content that is hostile to Sharia law and religion, humiliates Muslims, or depicts living beings. Violations of these rules can result in verbal warnings, threats, fines, arrest for up to three days, or other punishments as determined by the morality police. Repeat offenders may be referred to the courts for further action.
The enforcement of these laws represents a significant shift in the daily lives of Afghan citizens, as the Taliban government seeks to impose its strict interpretation of Islamic law on the population. The impact of these regulations on individual freedoms and societal norms remains to be seen, but it is clear that the Taliban’s control over the country is tightening with the implementation of these laws.