2 months ago
106
The Taliban in Afghanistan have been accused of creating a ‘climate of fear’ through its morality police which are enforcing strict religious laws in the country. A UN report details how the de facto Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice is making sure that ‘the public adheres to a set of normative values compatible with the Taliban’s vision of the ‘Islamic Emirate’’ read more
 "No music. No hookah. No non-Islamic celebrations. How Taliban is empowering 'morality police' in Afghanistan")
An Afghan woman carries empty containers to fetch water in Nahr-e-Shahi district in Balkh province, Afghanistan, August 6, 2023. File Image/Reuters
Listening to music, smoking hookah, and getting a Western-style haircut have all become punishable acts under the Taliban’s increasingly oppressive rule in Afghanistan, as highlighted in a recent UN report.
The Taliban’s so-called morality police, operating under the de facto Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (MPVPV), have severely curtailed human rights, especially targeting women and girls, creating what the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) describes as a “climate of fear and intimidation.”
Established in 2021 after the Taliban’s return to power, the MPVPV enforces the group’s stringent interpretations of Islamic law. These include bans on activities deemed “un-Islamic,” such as displaying images of humans and animals and celebrating occasions like Valentine’s Day.
Between August 15, 2021, and March 31, 2024, the report released on Tuesday (July 9), documented at least 1,033 instances where Taliban officers used violence to enforce their decrees. The MPVPV’s enforcement methods include verbal intimidation, arrests, detentions, ill-treatment, and public lashings.
The enforcement of these rules is often inconsistent and unpredictable, adding to the pervasive atmosphere of fear, the report said.
When the Taliban seized control in August 2021 following the chaotic withdrawal of US-led troops, the group initially presented itself as more moderate compared to its 1990s rule. However, the UN report indicates that many of the same repressive rules have resurfaced.
What has the report revealed?
One of the first restrictions imposed by the MPVPV was a prohibition on women appearing in movies, as well as disallowing the broadcasting of movies reflecting foreign culture and containing humour considered offensive by the de facto authorities, said the report.
The report said that the instruction also required women journalists working in media to wear the Islamic hijab. It forbade movies that are against Sharia principles and Afghan values, as well as movies and videos where men expose their bodies.
The MPVPV has also issued a number of instructions regarding the appropriate appearance of men. The MPVPV instructed barbers not to trim the beards of men nor to cut their hair in “Western style” haircuts, the report revealed. In December 2023, the morality police temporarily closed 20 barbershops for providing Western-style haircuts and shaving beards, only releasing two detained barbers after they promised to comply with Taliban regulations.
Men have been instructed to observe congregational prayers at mosques. The report said that failure to do so has at times led to serious punishment, including fines, suspension of businesses and corporal punishment.
According to the report, the MPVPV has enforced a range of orders regulating behaviours and activities that it has deemed “un-Islamic” or inappropriate, such as music and smoking
of hookah.
The report cited an example: On 10 September 2023, in Faryab province, the DPVPV arrested 29 students from Faryab university. They were accused of playing music in the dormitory during the engagement party of one of their classmates. Reportedly, officials of the DPVPV slapped some of the students during the arrest and shaved their heads while in detention. They were released after 18 hours.
Also Read: Taliban crash wedding to punish those playing music
The UN report also notes the Taliban’s prohibition of public displays of human and animal images, resulting in the removal of advertising signage and the covering of shop mannequins. This has even impacted NGOs, which have been instructed to remove human images from educational materials aimed at alerting children to the dangers of unexploded artillery.
In Kabul city, posters were put up on Valentine’s Day by the DPVPV to inform the public of the ban on any non-Islamic celebrations.
Women-centric restrictions dominate the MPVPV objectives
The report details also details how the MPVPV enforces strict dress codes for women and restricts their access to public spaces. Women-owned businesses have been arbitrarily closed, women are banned from appearing in movies, and beauty salons have been shuttered. Access to birth control has also been restricted.
Women in Afghanistan face severe restrictions on their movement and activities. They are prohibited from accessing parks, gyms, and public baths – the latter being crucial for hot water during winter – and must be accompanied by a male guardian (mahram) when traveling more than 78 kilometeres (48.5 miles) from home.
On November 12, 2022 in Nangarhar province, the DPVPV warned women that they could not attend a health clinic without a mahram. This requirement was subsequently lifted after one month.
Additionally, women must wear a hijab.
The report highlights the extensive surveillance state in Afghanistan, with the Taliban monitoring people’s phones and cars for prohibited items, recording mosque attendance, and requiring proof of family relationships in public places. Media is heavily restricted, further contributing to the climate of fear.
Afghanistan is a party to seven international human rights instruments, obligating it to protect and promote the human rights of its citizens. The UN report states that the Taliban’s rules violate numerous human rights, including the right to work, freedom of movement and expression, and sexual and reproductive rights.
How has Taliban responded?
The Taliban, dismissed the UN’s criticism as “unfounded,” accusing the report’s authors of evaluating Afghanistan from a Western perspective.
The Taliban’s statement argued, “Afghanistan should be assessed as a Muslim society, where the vast majority of the population are Muslims who have made significant sacrifices for the establishment of a Sharia system.”
The Taliban also claimed that the media was free in the country and there were no restrictions imposed on journalists yet. “If any media channel faced reactions, it was due to their illegal activities. In most cases, arrests of journalists had more to do with other offenses than their
journalistic duties,” the statement said.
Defending the practice of having a male guardian for women, the Taliban said that “the presence of mahram with a woman is not only an Islamic value; it is also a cultural value.”
The repressive control over women has led to a rise in suicide attempts, with CNN reporting on a 16-year-old girl who drank battery acid to escape life under the Taliban.
Regarding allegations that women were prohibited from parks and public places, the Taliban said, “As you can see, women are seen shopping and conducting business in the markets these days. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs has issued almost 9000 work permits to women since the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan takeover.”
The Taliban however added, “Only locations where there is a mixed work environment are subject to restrictions,” citing security concerns for women as well as “upholding its [Afghanistan] religious and cultural values.”
Also Read: War Over Torkham Border? Why Pakistan and the Taliban are at Odds
Concerning the “vices: music and hookah,” the Taliban said: “The two aforementioned cases do not align with the nature of Afghan society; therefore, the government must take action to prevent it in accordance with the people’s request.”
In June this year, the Taliban met with top UN officials and global envoys in Qatar for a two-day conference that excluded Afghan women, sparking outrage from human rights groups.
With inputs from agencies
Anmol is a Senior Sub-Editor with Firstpost. He likes to cover stories that intrigue him, generally revolving around international polity, Indian foreign policy, human interest, environment and even the politically-charged election cycles in India. He has far too many disparate interests with a constant itch for travel. Having visited fourteen states in the Indian subcontinent, he is always on the lookout for opportunities to add more to the list. He enjoys watching Football, Tennis and F1 purely as a sports enthusiast. see more
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
English (US) ·