Taliban's New "Morality Law" in Afghanistan

TALIBAN’S MORALITY LAW: IMPACT ON WOMEN’S RIGHTS

1. What is the Taliban’s new “morality law”?
The Taliban’s morality law, recently enacted by the Ministry of Propagation of Virtue, is a formal set of restrictions targeting women and other groups in Afghanistan. It mandates that women must cover their entire bodies, avoid any appearance in public without male guardians, and prohibits women from being seen, heard, or mixing with men in public spaces. The law also includes provisions that restrict LGBTQ rights and various minority groups.

2. How are women being affected by the morality law?
The law enforces strict gender segregation and denies women basic freedoms. Women are required to veil themselves at all times, cannot sing or read aloud in public, and are not allowed to mix with men unless accompanied by a male relative. Women face harsh penalties, including arbitrary detentions and punishments, if they violate the law. The enforcement of these rules has led to women being effectively removed from public life, limiting their access to education, employment, and healthcare.

3. Why is the law being referred to as ‘gender apartheid’?
International organizations, including the UN, have described the law as “gender apartheid” because it systematically discriminates against women, making them second-class citizens. The law formalizes the Taliban’s repressive policies, which limit women’s roles in society and their basic human rights. Experts argue that this system of segregation based on gender is reminiscent of the Taliban’s previous regime in the 1990s, where women were similarly marginalized.

4. How does this law compare to the Taliban’s rule in the 1990s?
The current restrictions under the Taliban bear a strong resemblance to the policies enforced during their previous rule from 1996 to 2001. The Taliban’s earlier regime had similarly imposed severe restrictions on women’s freedoms, barring them from education, employment, and public appearances without a male guardian. Despite international condemnation, the group has not shown any significant shift in its approach to women’s rights since returning to power in 2021.

5. What are the international reactions to the Taliban’s morality law?
The international community, including the UN and human rights organizations, has expressed deep concern over the Taliban’s continued repression of women. The UN has condemned the policies, calling them a form of gender apartheid, and warned of the severe impacts on women’s rights and freedoms. Countries like the US have imposed sanctions, but several others, including some Muslim-majority nations and China, have recognized or engaged with the Taliban regime despite these policies.

6. How does this law affect other minority groups?
Along with women, the Taliban’s morality law targets LGBTQ communities, ethnic minorities, and religious groups. The law imposes harsh restrictions on these groups, with the Taliban government empowered to detain and punish those who do not conform to their strict interpretation of Islamic law. LGBTQ individuals, in particular, face heightened risks, as the Taliban deems same-sex relationships as punishable offences under Sharia law.

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