The Taliban government signed into law last week a set of ethics-related regulations in Afghanistan. Under the law, women in the country must cover their faces. And men must keep beards. Music cannot be played while driving, prayers and fasting cannot be omitted. The Ministry of Justice of Afghanistan said these things.
This Article 35 Act was officially implemented on Wednesday last week. The Ministry of Law and Justice of Afghanistan said that the new law was made in accordance with the directives of Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada in 2022 and Sharia law. It will function effectively as the Ministry of Ethics and Ethics.
The Ministry of Ethics will implement these regulations in accordance with Sharia law in Afghanistan. The ministry has already started implementing some similar rules. Thousands of people have been arrested for violating the rules. However, it is not yet certain how strictly the newly documented rules will be implemented. Spokesman of the Ministry of Justice Barkatullah Rasoli said, after the approval of the supreme leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, 35 regulations on ethics were implemented and documented as laws last Wednesday. According to the rules, women in Afghanistan must cover their entire body and face. Restrictions will be imposed on men’s beards. Along with that, one should refrain from skipping prayers and fasting.
In August 2021, the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan after ousting the Western-backed Ashraf Ghani government. Since then, some of the Taliban’s restrictions on women and freedom of speech have been criticized by human rights organizations and foreign governments.
Western countries, including the United States, say formal recognition of the Taliban government has largely stalled because it has not guaranteed women’s rights and opened girls’ schools.
According to the Taliban, they respect the freedom of women. However, it must not conflict with Sharia law and local customs. Also, the internal affairs should be looked at locally.
