Global Outcry Over Taliban's New Law

The Taliban's recent implementation of the 'Law on the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice' has drawn global condemnation for severely restricting women's rights in Afghanistan. This legislation mandates that women cover their entire bodies, bans their voices from being heard in public, and limits their movement without a male relative, effectively rendering them 'faceless, voiceless shadows,' according to UN human rights chief Volker Türk. The law also includes broad discretionary powers for state agents and imposes various restrictions on men and media. The United Nations and rights groups have called for the immediate repeal of these laws, deeming them a violation of international human rights. Despite international criticism, Taliban authorities argue that the law is rooted in Islamic teachings and dismiss rejection of it as 'arrogance.' The European Union has expressed strong disapproval, warning that these actions may amount to gender persecution.