A New Decree from the Taliban has shocked the world yet again with its latest restrictive measures aimed at women. Just when things seemed as if they couldn’t get any worse for Afghan women, the Taliban ruled this week to ban women from hearing each other’s voices, as per Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban Minister for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
Under this latest diktat, not only are women prohibited from speaking out loud, but they are also told to refrain from listening to one another—even during prayer. According to Hanafi, women should lower their voices to such an extent during prayers and other verbal expressions, so much so, they cannot even be heard by other women standing nearby.
“When women are not permitted to call takbir or athan [the Islamic call to prayer], they certainly cannot sing songs or music,” Hanafi stated, clearly reflecting the Taliban’s radical ideology on female vocalizations being considered as socially unacceptable. The edict also forbids women from reciting the Quran aloud when other women are present.
This outrageous policy is seen as just another step by the Taliban to erase women from public life, especially after months of previous restrictions, including the barring of women’s voices in public spaces. The mind-boggling specifics of the new regulations appeared to stem from the Taliban’s belief about "awrah,” which refers to what must be covered according to their interpretations of modesty.
The international community and human rights activists are heartbroken and understandably furious. Zohal Azra from the Australian Hazara Advocacy Network expressed incredulity at the Taliban's imposition of such extreme limitations following previous measures to ban women's faces and voices from view: “It is hard to believe the situation could worsen, but we have witnessed the Taliban's capacity to inflict unending harm on women.”
Since regaining control over Afghanistan, the Taliban has issued over 105 decrees aimed at systematically and methodically erasing women from the public sphere. Some activists liken their actions to gender apartheid, with international organizations including Amnesty International increasingly vocal about the severity of the situation.
“The capacity for darkness is growing daily for women and girls,” said Zaki Haidari from Amnesty International Australia, emphasizing the deteriorated situation for Afghan women. This growing silence surrounding the issues facing women has brought about calls to action for immediate global intervention to leverage some sort of pressure on the Taliban regime.
Historically, Afghanistan was not always like this. Women enjoyed rights long before many parts of the world saw similar advancements. Afghan women could vote as early as 1919 and even established the first schools for girls soon after. For many Afghans, the memories of those more progressive days linger painfully against the stark backdrop of the Taliban's current draconian regime.
Former journalist and filmmaker Lalage Snow articulated her despair and hopelessness when hearing about the dire restrictions placed on women. Snow, who had lived and worked extensively within Afghanistan prior to the Taliban’s return to power, gear up to re-emphasize the heartbreak felt by many involved with women’s rights. She recounted the palpable advancements women had made before the Taliban reignited their oppressive grip.
“For three years we’ve seen the metaphorical silencing of women. Now it is literal,” she said, as women are now entirely prohibited from even sharing their voices with others, no less so than admitting how they are feeling, thinking, or expressing themselves.
Human rights organizations are rallying together to call attention to this growing crisis. The unacceptable treatment of women is being met with vocal demands for global awareness and assistance. The United Nations and other bodies have started acknowledging the situation's urgency, with many calling it one of the foremost human rights crises of our time.
The global reaction has been largely condemnatory, with many remarking how these actions go against all internationally accepted standards of human rights and dignity. Opinions like those expressed by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who drew comparisons between the current oppression faced by Afghan women and historical backslides seen globally, serve to amplify the western world’s call for action.
Women’s rights movements and support networks have been brewing internationally, aimed at ensuring not only the voices of Afghan women are heard but more actionable steps will be taken to prevent the Taliban from continuing their oppressive policies unchecked.
Reflecting on these recent developments, some activists are left pondering what more can possibly be done to generate widespread concern about the women of Afghanistan. Where is the outrage, and why does it feel as if they are slipping silently from global consciousness?
Naturally, the question remains: just how far will the Taliban go to enforce their ideological beliefs, and what measures can be put forth by the international community to aid those who suffer under such extremist oppression?
These queries encapsulated fear, as there are demonstrated increases to physical crimes against women as the Taliban tightens its grip, coupled with the mental stress resulting from isolation, fear, oppression, and despair. Afghan women, once eager participants within society, now find themselves trapped by increasingly restrictive measures and left to plead for the world to hear their muted voices.
