The Taliban, in power for three years since the US withdrawal in 2021, has implemented new laws in Afghanistan to enforce virtue and combat vice. The laws, approved by supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, include strict regulations on women’s attire and behavior in public. Women are required to cover themselves at all times, with face veils being mandatory to prevent temptation. Additionally, female voices are considered intimate and should not be heard in public. The laws also cover various aspects of everyday life such as music, transportation, and interactions between men and women.
The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice is responsible for enforcing these laws and administering punishments for violations. The laws also prohibit the publication of images of living beings, playing music, and the mixing of men and women who are not related. Women are forbidden from looking at men they are not related to, and vice versa.
The promotion of virtue according to the ministry’s website includes prayer, aligning behavior with Sharia law, encouraging hijab, and compliance with Islamic principles. The elimination of vice involves banning activities forbidden by Islam. However, these laws have created a climate of fear and intimidation among Afghans, as noted in a recent UN report. The Taliban’s strict interpretation of Sharia law has led to the deprivation of education for 1.4 million Afghan girls and the banning of females from secondary education and universities. UNESCO has warned that the future of an entire generation is at risk due to these policies. Can you rephrase that?
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