ISLAMABAD – The recent vice and virtue laws enforced by the Taliban in Afghanistan have paved the way for a bleak future, as emphasized by a top U.N. official on Sunday.
Roza Otunbayeva, the head of the U.N. mission in Afghanistan, expressed grave concerns about the stringent regulations, which now include a ban on women’s voices and exposure of their faces in public spaces, further limiting their rights and freedoms.
The new laws, issued by Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers, impose strict rules on women, requiring them to conceal their faces, bodies, and voices outside their homes. The Vice and Virtue Ministry is tasked with enforcing these regulations and administering punishments for violations.
Otunbayeva criticized these laws, stating that Afghan people deserve better treatment, especially in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.
The U.N. mission is closely monitoring the implications of these laws on Afghan society and humanitarian efforts in the region.
While Taliban officials have not responded to these concerns, Vice and Virtue Minister Mohammad Khaled Hanafi emphasized the commitment to uphold women’s rights under Islamic law.
The international community, including the U.N., has raised objections to the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls, making official recognition of the Taliban challenging as long as such restrictions persist.
Despite the lack of recognition, some countries, like the United Arab Emirates, have established diplomatic ties with the Taliban, aiming to provide humanitarian assistance and promote stability in the region.
Otunbayeva is set to report to the U.N. Security Council regarding the situation in Afghanistan, highlighting the challenges faced by women and girls in the country.
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