The United Nations has condemned a new law issued by the Taliban government in Afghanistan, which bans women from baring their faces and speaking in public places. The Taliban has reacted by warning against "arrogance" from those who may not be familiar with Islamic Sharia law.
The Taliban's recent enactment of laws designed to prevent vice and promote virtue has sparked condemnation from the United Nations. The laws, which include a requirement for women to conceal their faces, bodies, and voices outside the home, have been deemed a "distressing vision" for Afghanistan's future by Roza Otunbayeva, head of the UN's mission in the country, UNAMA.
Taliban Defends Sharia Law After UN Raises Concerns Over Restrictions on Women
Otunbayeva has expressed concerns that the laws exacerbate the already intolerable restrictions on the rights of women and girls, going so far as to deem "even the sound of a female voice" outside the home a moral violation.
In response, Zabihullah Mujahid, chief spokesman for the Taliban government, issued a statement warning against "arrogance" from those who may not be familiar with Islamic Sharia law, particularly non-Muslims who might express reservations or objections. Mujahid urged a thorough understanding of these laws and a respectful acknowledgment of Islamic values.
Taliban Defends Sharia Law After UN Raises Concerns Over Restrictions on Women
The new laws from Afghanistan's Taliban rulers mark the country's first set of regulations aimed at preventing vice and promoting virtue. Aside from concealing their faces, bodies, and voices outside the home, women are also prohibited from appearing in images of living beings, such as photographs.
Otunbayeva emphasized that after decades of war and a severe humanitarian crisis, the Afghan people deserve better than being threatened or imprisoned for minor offenses such as being late for prayers, glancing at a member of the opposite sex who is not a family member, or possessing a photograph of a loved one.
Mujahid, however, remained defiant, stating that the concerns raised by the United Nations and other parties would not sway the Islamic Emirate from its commitment to upholding and enforcing Islamic Sharia law. The Taliban maintains that these laws are essential for establishing a virtuous society in accordance with their interpretation of Islam.
The United Nations has expressed disappointment over the Taliban's response to their concerns, calling on the government to reconsider its position and uphold its obligations under international law to respect and protect the rights of all Afghans, regardless of gender.
The situation in Afghanistan has raised international alarm, with many organizations and governments condemning the Taliban's restrictions on women and girls. The implementation of these laws has further isolated Afghanistan from the international community, which is pressuring the Taliban to reverse course and respect the rights of all citizens.
