Kabul, Afghanistan — A severe blow to women's rights has come from the Taliban with their latest decree prohibiting Afghan women from praying aloud or reciting the Qur'an within earshot of each other. This restriction, issued on October 30, 2024, marks yet another layer of oppression against women since the Taliban assumed power again in August 2021 and has caused outrage among activists and human rights observers both locally and internationally.
Minister Khalid Hanafi, who oversees the Vice and Virtue Ministry, announced this controversial regulation via social media, claiming it was justified to protect women from temptation. His statements have incited deep concern about the psychological toll this type of censorship will have on Afghan women, who are already enduring significant repression.
“Even when praying, women must not make their voices audible to others, including other women,” declared Hanafi during the announcement, underscoring the alarming nature of the decree. This latest law complements existing edicts, which have already rendered women effectively voiceless both publicly and privately.
The backdrop of this new restriction is the broader pattern of punitive measures targeting women and girls since the Taliban's return to power. Following the hardline group's sweeping moral decrees, women have found themselves victim to policies banning them from education beyond the sixth grade, restricting their access to various public spaces, and mandatorily requiring male guardians for travel and medical assistance.
Activists quickly condemned these new directives. “Living under these conditions is painfully distressing for us as women,” lamented one Afghan woman, stressing the emotional and psychological strain these rules impose on daily life. Her sentiments encapsulate many others who feel isolated and oppressed by the deepening restrictions.
“This latest prohibition is not just about praying aloud; it’s symbolic of the broader attempt by the Taliban to erase women’s voices altogether,” stated Zubaida Akbar, an Afghan advocate for women's rights. She noted how these restrictions inhibit women's ability to gather, express themselves, and support one another. Such limitations signal not only the Taliban's fear of women's empowerment but also their desperation to silence dissent.
The newly decreed regulations specify astoundingly broad definitions of what constitutes appropriate female behavior within Afghan society. The term "awrah" has often been used to describe women’s voices, implying they are inappropriate for public discourse. The idea is rooted deeply within Taliban ideology, which views women's freedoms and voices as threats to societal norms.
During previous months, the Taliban reaffirmed their restrictive approach by issuing extensive morality codes. These laws require women to dress fully, covering their faces and bodies, and prohibit them from singing or engaging publicly. Khalid Hanafi, the newly appointed minister, elaborated on the rationale behind these measures, emphasizing the need to save women from what they describe as immorality.
“A public woman's voice is viewed as intimate and should be concealed,” he declared, demonstrating the eerily patriarchal tone such justifications reflect. The Taliban has painted these draconian measures as protective, framing their quest to silence women as moral oversight.
Human rights organizations have raised alarms, demanding immediate international intervention and solidarity with Afghan women. Groups like Human Rights Watch and the United Nations have called out the Taliban for what they term systemic gender apartheid, underscoring the idea these laws are not centered on safeguarding but solely on controlling women’s lives.
“What the world needs to understand is how these rules function to obliterate any possibility for Afghan women to have independent lives,” said Heather Barr, the associate director of the women's rights division at Human Rights Watch. Barr reaffirmed the connection between these laws and the rising tide of feminized poverty and violence against women.
Backend consequences of this oppression are stark. Not only do these restrictions deny women their right to participate freely and fully in society, but they also strip them of their economic independence and security, creating cycles of desperation amid families reliant on women’s contributions to household incomes.
The Taliban's zero-tolerance policy toward women's public voices becomes even stark when examining the enforced silence around education. Since regaining power, the hardline group has systematically targeted educational institutions, restricting girls' access to schooling and banning women from roles within NGOs.
One woman, who had to abandon her job with an NGO, highlighted the financial strain these policies have placed on her family, expressing her anguish and uncertainty about how they will survive without her income. “We don’t have any food at home, and the future looks bleak,” she shared.
The impact of these oppressive measures on Afghan society continues to reverberate beyond national boundaries. International responses have become increasingly vocal, with human rights advocates pleading for the global community to not turn its back on the plight of Afghan women. It’s clear conversations surrounding women’s rights must escalate, especially now as Afghanistan's government seeks recognition on the global stage without addressing fundamental human rights violations.
Current discussions around this situation have also stressed the importance of amplifying the voices of Afghan women who challenge the Taliban’s authority. Activists, including prominent figures like Sonita Alizadeh, are leveraging their platforms to expose the injustices faced by women and girls within Afghanistan.
Alizadeh, who has made headlines for her music and advocacy, believes these stark realities fuel the urgency for action. “The Taliban are afraid of what women can achieve,” she stated passionately. “They are trying to stifle our voices, but we won’t be silenced.”
Secret schools have begun cropping up, where girls are educated outside the purview of the Taliban. These acts of defiance speak to the strength and resilience of Afghan women determined to maintain their rights and freedoms, even faced with severe repercussions.
The recent laws banning women’s voices indicate not just the Taliban’s deep-seated fears but also their recognition of women's potential as agents of change. Each decree sparks outrage and questions, proving to many around the world the urgent need for sustained activism and international involvement to protect this beleaguered population.
For Afghan women, the fight for their rights amid these growing restrictions remains perilous yet persistent. Their courage and resolve herald the possibility of change, even when faced with overwhelming odds and drastic measures from those who govern. This new layer of oppression may add to their silent struggles, but history shows they possess the determination to resist, challenge, and—eventually—overcome these obstacles.”
