The Taliban has recently imposed stringent laws severely restricting women’s public behavior and interactions with men. These regulations, introduced in August 2024, mandate that women fully cover their bodies and faces in public to prevent “temptation.” Additionally, women’s voices are deemed “intimate” and are prohibited from being heard in public spaces, including singing, reciting, or reading aloud—even from within their own homes. Outlook India+5Almost+5Business & Finance News+5ABP Live+8Voice of America+8Business News Today+8
The laws further forbid women from looking at men who are not their direct relatives and prohibit any mixing of unrelated men and women in public. Penalties for non-compliance include warnings, property confiscation, detention ranging from one hour to three days, and other punishments deemed appropriate by the authorities. Almost+6Business & Finance News+6The Indian Express+6The Independent+1Voice of America+1
These measures have drawn widespread international condemnation, with human rights organizations labeling them as mechanisms attempting to “render women into faceless, voiceless shadows.” The United Nations has expressed concern, stating that these restrictions could create an environment of “fear and intimidation” for women and girls in Afghanistan. news+2The Guardian+2The Independent+2Latest news & breaking headlines+2The Indian Express+2Almost+2
In response, Afghan women have initiated acts of defiance, such as posting videos of themselves singing under the hashtag #MyVoiceIsNotForbidden, challenging the Taliban’s oppressive measures.
The Taliban’s recent “vice and virtue” laws have introduced severe restrictions on Afghan women’s public and private lives. Beyond prohibiting women from speaking loudly and looking at non-relative men, these laws mandate that women fully cover their faces and bodies in public to prevent “temptation.” Additionally, women’s voices are deemed “intimate” and are prohibited from being heard in public spaces, including singing, reciting, or reading aloud—even from within their own homes. AP News+7Politico+7The Guardian+7
These measures have drawn widespread international condemnation. The United Nations has expressed concern that these restrictions could create an environment of “fear and intimidation” for women and girls in Afghanistan. Roza Otunbayeva, head of the UN mission in the country, stated that the laws provide a “distressing vision” for Afghanistan’s future. AP News+4ABC+4Politico+4
In response, Afghan women have initiated acts of defiance, such as posting videos of themselves singing under the hashtag #MyVoiceIsNotForbidden, challenging the Taliban’s oppressive measures.