In a continuation of oppressive measures, the Taliban has implemented a new decree that bans Afghan women from praying aloud or reciting the Qur’an in each other’s presence. This recent move is part of a series of “virtue” laws enforced in Afghanistan since August, outlined in a 114-page document covering public life.
Previously, women were mandated to veil their entire bodies, including their faces, and were forbidden from singing or reading aloud in public, as their voices were deemed “intimate.” Women have also been excluded from education beyond sixth grade, most jobs, and many public spaces. They are even restricted from looking at unrelated men.
Taliban’s Vice and Virtue Minister Khalid Hanafi stated during an event in Logar province, “It is prohibited for a grown woman to recite Quranic verses or perform recitations in front of another grown woman.” He emphasized that even simple expressions like “Subhanallah” are banned.
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Human rights activists warn these rules may limit women from even conversing with each other. The Taliban’s ministry, established in 2021, has faced criticism for contributing to fear and hardship, especially for women and girls.
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