Under New Law In Afghanistan: Taliban Bans Women From Speaking And Removes Them As Doctors
The Taliban's imposing severe restrictions on women, including a complete veiling of their faces and voices in public, have drawn global condemnation
These new "vice and virtue" regulations, approved by Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, mark an alarming escalation in the group's already draconian policies against women
The laws mandate that women must wear thick clothing that veils their entire bodies, including their faces, whenever they leave their homes
Women’s voices have been classified as "instruments of vice," effectively banning them from being heard in public spaces, whether through singing, speaking, or reading aloud even from inside their homes
The regulations further state that women may not look directly at men outside their immediate family, and that taxi drivers will face punishment if they transport women without a male escort
Violators of these laws may face detention and punishment at the discretion of Taliban officials
Taliban has ordered several private and public institutions to cease providing medical courses for women and girls
If implemented, this directive would severely limit women's access to education and healthcare, compounding the challenges faced by Afghanistan's healthcare system and stifling broader development in the country
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric expressed grave concerns over these developments, urging the Taliban to reconsider the implementation of these directives
The international community continues to monitor the situation, with human rights groups calling for immediate action to address these oppressive policies that strip Afghan women of their fundamental rights and freedoms