In a move that further curtails the freedoms of Afghan women, the Taliban has issued a decree prohibiting women from praying aloud in the presence of one another. Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban’s minister for the propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice, announced that women should not recite the Quran audibly when with other women. This restriction is rooted in the belief that a woman’s voice is deemed “awrah,” which means it should be concealed and not heard in public, even among fellow women.
Hanafi reinforced the severity of this decree, arguing that if women are not allowed to call the Takbir or Azan—the Islamic call to prayer—they certainly cannot sing or listen to music. This ruling raises serious concerns among experts regarding its potential to stifle women’s freedom of expression and further marginalize them in public life.
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Increased Restrictions on Women’s Public Speech
This latest decree adds to a troubling pattern of restrictions imposed on women since the Taliban regained power in 2021. Recently, the regime mandated that women wear full-body coverings, including face veils, while in public. Female healthcare workers, who are among the few Afghan women allowed to work outside the home, face severe limitations on their interactions, particularly with male relatives. A midwife in Herat shared her frustration with Amu TV, stating that they are prohibited from speaking at checkpoints or discussing medical matters with male relatives in clinics.
While the specifics of how this new rule will be enforced remain uncertain, it aligns with the Taliban’s ongoing efforts to suppress women’s rights and freedoms. As these restrictions multiply, the plight of women in Afghanistan becomes increasingly dire, drawing international concern from human rights advocates.
The Taliban’s Ongoing Oppression of Women
The Taliban’s history regarding women’s rights is alarming. Amnesty International has documented several oppressive measures, including:
– Banning girls from attending secondary school
– Limiting women’s access to work and education
– Enforcing stringent dress codes
– Arbitrarily detaining women and girls for alleged “moral corruption”
– Contributing to an increase in child, early, and forced marriages
The continuation of such policies highlights a troubling trajectory for women’s rights in Afghanistan, raising alarms worldwide about the implications for women’s autonomy and safety.
(By Ankita Singh, Web Team at C6N)
