Afghan

Taliban Enacts Strict Modesty Laws Affecting Afghan Women’s Public Appearance and Behavior

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KABUL, Afghanistan — In a significant escalation of its restrictive measures on women, the Taliban has mandated the covering of faces in public as part of a broader legislative framework intended to “combat vice and promote virtue.” This directive was ratified by the group’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, and is part of a suite of rules aimed at enforcing strict adherence to the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic law. Following their return to power in 2021, twenty years after their initial ousting, the Taliban established the Ministry for Vice and Virtue. The exclusive responsibility of this … Read more

Taliban’s Discriminatory Gender Policies Disqualify Them as Afghanistan’s Legitimate Government, Says Afghan Legal Scholar

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KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban’s reestablishment of control over Afghanistan following their seizure of Kabul on August 15, 2021, has raised questions about their legitimacy as a government under international law. The Taliban’s dismal record on human rights, particularly their discriminatory gender policies, has drawn criticism from legal scholars who argue that these policies disqualify them from being recognized as the country’s legitimate government. According to Afghan legal scholar Haroun Rahimi, the Taliban’s ability to be recognized as a government hinges on their willingness to adhere to modern-day international human rights law. However, their commitment … Read more