Kabul, Afghanistan – Afghanistan’s Taliban leadership has enacted a comprehensive new code of conduct aimed at regulating personal behavior and social norms under their strict interpretation of Islamic law. Announced by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, the sweeping guidelines mark a significant, codified step since the group regained control in 2021.
The 114-page decree, unveiled on Wednesday, encompasses a broad range of dictates affecting day-to-day life including dress codes, social interactions, and public media. This is the first formal compilation of rules regarding vice and virtue circulated by the Taliban government, underscoring their intent to reshape Afghan society.
Under these regulations, women in particular face rigorous constraints. They are required to cover their faces in public and to don garments that are neither form-fitting nor revealing. The code specifies that the voice of a woman is to be considered private, effectively barring women from singing, reading aloud, or speaking where they can be overheard by men who are not family members.
Additionally, the laws restrict both women and men from engaging in any form of visual or physical interaction with non-relatives, further isolating women from the public sphere. The new code also extends to the prohibition of any illustrations or photos of living creatures, which aligns with the Taliban’s austere rejection of most representational art.
Music, too, faces outright prohibition in any public context, and women traveling alone without a male companion are not permitted to use public or private transport services. The code further mandates that all individuals, including transport operators and passengers, adhere to designated prayer times, with punitive measures outlined for non-compliance.
Reflecting on these regulations, Maulvi Abdul Ghafar Farooq, a spokesman for the ministry, stated, “This implementation of Islamic law will significantly aid in fostering virtue and curbing vice in our society.”
However, these measures have drawn stark international criticism. A recent report by the United Nations accused the ministry’s policies of fostering a “climate of fear and intimidation” which has severely impacted women and girls, limiting their participation in public life. Despite such backlash, the Taliban continues to enforce and even tighten these restrictions.
The international community remains concerned about the escalating suppression of fundamental rights in Afghanistan, particularly those of women and children. As these new laws take effect, the tension between cultural sovereignty and international human rights standards continues to be a contentious issue on the global stage.
Observers argue that these policies not only suppress individual freedoms but also risk further isolating Afghanistan economically and diplomatically at a time when the country is grappling with severe humanitarian challenges. The full impact of these laws remains to be seen, both within Afghanistan and in its interactions with the global community.