Taliban Issues New Restrictions on Women

The Taliban's new 'Vice and Virtue' laws, recently ratified by supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, impose severe restrictions on women in Afghanistan, including a ban on their voices and bare faces in public. These laws mandate that women cover their bodies and faces at all times and prohibit them from singing or speaking aloud in public, under the premise that their voices are deemed intimate. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) have condemned these decrees, highlighting concerns about the future of women's rights and freedom of expression. Additionally, the Taliban recently shut down a women-run radio station for broadcasting music during Ramadan, exacerbating the suppression of women's voices in the media. Critics argue that these actions reflect a broader pattern of repression against women and minorities in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained power. The international community continues to voice outrage over these developments, emphasizing the urgent need for accountability and support for Afghan women and girls.