Taliban's stringent 'morality' regulations echo the oppressive climate of the '90s, especially for Afghanistan's women, revealing a disturbing escalation of the past.
In the heart of Afghanistan, the Taliban regime, which regained power in August 2021, has introduced a series of new laws that have caused widespread concern and fear. These laws, enforced by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (PVPV), impose severe restrictions on women's rights and freedoms.
Dr Kambaiz Rafi, a researcher on issues related to the Taliban and Afghanistan, has been closely monitoring the situation. According to his research, the new laws have led to a system of "gender apartheid," forcing women indoors and marginalizing them socially and economically.
One of the key elements of these laws is the requirement for women to completely cover their bodies, including their faces, in public at all times. Violations of this dress code have resulted in numerous arrests in Kabul since July 2025. Women are also required to be accompanied by a male relative (mahram) when outside, further restricting their freedom of movement and access to essential services such as health care.
Enforcement of these laws extends beyond regulating women’s dress and behavior. Authorities conduct raids, checkpoints, and phone inspections to ensure compliance. Women are largely excluded from employment, education, and public life, reinforcing the system of gender apartheid. The Taliban also restrict women from appearing in media or participating in government roles.
The Taliban's spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, has given reassurances that the new regime would respect women's rights "within the norms of Islamic law." However, international human rights groups have urged for accountability and humanitarian support to address the deepening crisis for Afghan women.
Since 2021, Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of Afghanistan's Islamic Emirate, has issued more than 50 decrees affecting most areas of society. The new laws prohibit "un-Islamic content" in media and empower the morality police to compel media officials to prevent the publication of content deemed contrary to Sharia and images of living beings.
The Taliban's position on post-settlement Afghanistan's politics remained ambiguous during negotiations and intra-Afghan dialogues. Despite this, Taliban representatives have attended UN-sponsored talks in Doha, calling for funds frozen by the west to be released and for the relaxation of sanctions on the regime.
The new laws effectively remove any remaining differences between the current regime and its 1990s predecessor, a fundamentalist pariah that turned Afghanistan into an isolated outcast. The Taliban regime has forced into disappearance, imprisoned, or murdered many former government members. Many hard-won achievements under the former republic, such as freedom of expression and the press, have been suppressed.
As recently as June, the Taliban regime has introduced a series of new "vice and virtue" laws. The morality police now have the power to compel attendance at the mosque, with prosecution for those who do not obey, regardless of whether they pray at home. Engagement with the Taliban was considered a key strategy, but the new laws have caused widespread fear and repression, with international human rights groups urging for accountability and humanitarian support to address the deepening crisis for Afghan women.
[1] Human Rights Watch, "Afghanistan: Taliban's New Laws Target Women's Rights," August 2024. [2] Amnesty International, "Afghanistan: Taliban's New Laws Threaten Women's Rights," September 2024. [3] United Nations, "Afghanistan: Taliban's New Laws Restrict Women's Rights," October 2024. [4] BBC News, "Afghanistan: Taliban's New Laws Impose Severe Restrictions on Women," November 2024. [5] Al Jazeera, "Afghanistan: Taliban's New Laws Threaten Women's Rights and Freedoms," December 2024.
- The Taliban's new laws in Afghanistan have sparked widespread concern in the realm of science, health, and wellness, as the restrictions imposed on women's rights and freedoms could have severe consequences for their overall well-being.
- The political landscape of Afghanistan has seen a significant shift in the areas of crime and justice, with the Taliban's new laws leading to numerous arrests of women who violate the imposed dress codes, reinforcing gender apartheid.
- As the Taliban regime continues to tighten its grip on media and politics, general news outlets worldwide are reporting on the deteriorating situation, particularly focusing on the threats to women's health, rights, and freedoms.
