UN Expresses Concern Over Taliban’s New Morality Law, Cites Impact on Women’s Rights

The United Nations mission in Afghanistan expressed deep concern on Sunday over a newly ratified morality law by the Taliban authorities, highlighting its particularly restrictive measures on women’s freedoms. The law, which was officially announced last Wednesday, consists of 35 articles that impose strict behavioral and lifestyle restrictions based on the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic law.

The codified law outlines a series of punishments for non-compliance, ranging from verbal warnings to fines and detentions, all to be enforced by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. The morality police will oversee these regulations, with penalties escalating depending on the perceived severity of the infraction.

Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), voiced strong concerns about the law, describing it as “a distressing vision for Afghanistan’s future.” She warned that the law grants morality inspectors broad powers to threaten and detain individuals based on what she termed “vague lists of infractions.”

“After decades of war and in the midst of a terrible humanitarian crisis, the Afghan people deserve much better than being threatened or jailed if they happen to be late for prayers, glance at a member of the opposite sex who is not a family member, or possess a photo of a loved one,” Otunbayeva said.

Although many aspects of the law have been informally enforced since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, it remains unclear whether its formal codification will lead to stricter enforcement. Women, in particular, have been the primary targets of these restrictions, which the UN has previously described as “gender apartheid.” These measures have effectively pushed women out of public life, further deepening the challenges they face under Taliban rule.

Otunbayeva emphasized that the new law “extends the already intolerable restrictions on the rights of Afghan women and girls, with even the sound of a female voice outside the home apparently deemed a moral violation.” According to the law, women are required to cover their faces and bodies when leaving their homes and must ensure that their voices are not heard in public.

In addition to the restrictions on women, the UN also expressed concerns over limitations on religious and press freedoms imposed by the law. The law mandates that media outlets must not publish content deemed “hostile to Sharia law and religion” or anything that “shows living beings.”

However, the UN acknowledged some positive aspects of the law, such as provisions banning the mistreatment of orphans and the practice of “bacha bazi,” or “boy play,” where older men exploit young boys. Despite these positive elements, the overall impact of the law is seen as a significant step backward for human rights in Afghanistan, particularly for women and girls.