KABUL, Afghanistan: The Taliban have firmly defended their recently introduced vice and virtue laws, which impose stringent restrictions on women in Afghanistan. These laws mandate that women cover their faces, bodies, and voices in public, and prohibit images of living beings. The United Nations, through Roza Otunbayeva of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), has criticized these regulations as a “distressing vision” for Afghanistan’s future, asserting that they exacerbate already severe restrictions on women’s rights.
Otunbayeva expressed concern that the new laws extend “intolerable restrictions” and create an environment where even a woman’s voice in public is considered a moral violation. In response, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid warned against what he described as “arrogance” from those unfamiliar with Islamic law, particularly non-Muslims. Mujahid urged for a deeper understanding and respectful acknowledgment of Islamic values, dismissing criticisms as uninformed.
The Taliban’s response reflects their stance on enforcing what they view as Islamic principles, despite international condemnation. Otunbayeva emphasized the dire situation in Afghanistan, pointing out that amidst ongoing humanitarian crises, such laws contribute to a troubling environment for Afghan women.
