New Delhi: The Taliban government in Afghanistan has officially codified a strict set of morality laws, solidifying their control over personal freedoms and behaviors across the country. These laws, which mandate women to fully cover their faces and men to grow beards, also prohibit drivers from playing music in vehicles. The laws were published this week by the Ministry of Justice, based on a 2022 decree by the Talibans supreme spiritual leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada.Codification of morality lawsThe newly enacted 35-article morality law has been integrated into the Afghan legal framework by the Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Propagation of Virtue. This ministry, also known as the morality ministry, has already been enforcing similar regulations informally since the Talibans return to power in 2021. The codification of these rules marks a formalization of the Talibans stringent interpretation of Islamic sharia law.According to Justice Ministry spokesperson Barakatullah Rasoli, The Ministry is obligated to promote good and forbid evil in accordance with Islamic Sharia, highlighting the religious basis for the new laws. The requirements for women to wear attire that completely covers their bodies and faces, alongside restrictions on men shaving their beards, are just some of the many mandates now officially in place.Penalties for non-complianceViolations of these morality laws will result in a range of penalties, including verbal warnings, confiscation of property, and short-term detentions. Offenders could be detained for up to three days in public jails. In cases where these measures do not lead to a change in behavior, individuals may be referred to court for further action. The Talibans approach has drawn severe criticism from international human rights organizations, with many condemning the crackdown on womens rights and freedom of expression.Human rights concernsThe Talibans policies, particularly their restrictions on women, have been met with sharp criticism from rights groups and foreign governments. Western nations, led by the United States, have made it clear that the path to recognizing the Taliban as Afghanistans legitimate government will remain blocked until they reverse their stance on womens rights, including reopening high schools for girls.Heather Barr, Associate Director of Human Rights Watchs Womens Rights Division, expressed concern over the formalization of these laws, stating, This is a sign of what weve been seeing over the last three years, which is a steady and gradual escalation of the crackdown.Broader implicationsIn addition to the morality laws, the Taliban have introduced several other codified regulations concerning property, financial services, and the prevention of begging. The morality ministry has been actively monitoring and detaining individuals for alleged offenses, with over 13,000 people detained in the past year alone. The Taliban suspended Afghanistans previous constitution upon taking power in 2021, pledging to govern solely based on sharia law.
