The Taliban authorities in Afghanistan have introduced a set of rules governing everyday lifestyle based on their strict interpretation of Islamic law.
The justice ministry announced on its website on Wednesday that the 35-article law had been approved by the Taliban’s supreme leader, the reclusive Hibatullah Akhundzada.
A range of prohibitions and guidelines for social interactions, private lives, and style of dress have now been laid out in the law.
The law stipulates in particular that “Muslim women are obliged to cover their faces and bodies” around men who are not “mahrams”—typically a husband, brother, father, son, grandfather, or uncle under Islam—and non-Muslim women.
“If a mature woman must leave her house out of necessity, she is obliged to cover her face, body and ensure her voice is not heard.”
Men are also instructed not to wear shorts above the knee or to closely trim their beards.
The law also sets out rules for vehicle drivers, including no music, no drugs, and no transporting unveiled women or women in the presence of men without a mahram.
Other rules include bans on homosexuality, missing prayers, adultery, gambling, making animals fight or disobeying one’s parents, as well as creating or viewing images of living beings on a computer or phone.
The law further stipulates that media outlets must not publish “content hostile to Sharia law and religion,” “humiliates Muslims,” or “shows living beings.”
The law sets out graduated punishments for non-compliance: verbal warning, threats, fines, arrest ranging from one hour to three days, or other punishments requested by the morality police.
Repeat offences will lead to referral to the courts.
The white-coat wearing personnel of the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in charge of enforcing the law have been fixtures of Afghan streets since the Taliban authorities swept to power in 2021.
The Taliban government recently said the morality police will play an increasing role in enforcing religious law in Afghanistan, according to a UN report published in July that accused them of creating a “climate of fear”.
AFP
