UNITED NATIONS: A recent UN report has shed light on the Taliban’s morality police in Afghanistan, revealing widespread fear and intimidation among the population.
Since assuming power in 2021, the Taliban established a ministry for the “propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice,” enforcing strict decrees that disproportionately affect women and girls. These include mandates on dress codes, segregated education and employment, and requiring a male guardian for travel.
According to the UN Mission in Afghanistan, the methods used by the ministry often violate human rights and fundamental freedoms. The report documented over 1,033 incidents from August 2021 to March 2024 where ministry employees used force during enforcement, leading to arbitrary arrests, detentions, and physical and mental harm.
The ministry’s authority extends beyond moral policing into media censorship and anti-drug campaigns, raising concerns about expanding oversight under Taliban rule. Fiona Frazer, head of UNAMA’s Human Rights Service, expressed significant concern, particularly for women and girls, amidst the ministry’s growing influence.
In response, the Taliban’s ministry dismissed the UN report, labeling its findings as false and contradictory. They defended their decrees as necessary for societal reform and vowed to ensure their implementation.
This report follows a Taliban delegation’s participation in a UN-sponsored meeting in Qatar, aimed at boosting engagement amid Afghanistan’s economic woes and humanitarian crises. However, the meeting sparked criticism for excluding Afghan women and civil society, further exacerbating concerns over human rights and inclusive governance under Taliban rule.
