KABUL: Afghanistan’s Taliban have formally codified a comprehensive set of morality rules, mandating that women cover their faces, men grow beards, and car drivers refrain from playing music, British News agency Reuters reported on Friday quoting the Afghan Justice Ministry.
These rules, promoted as being in line with Islamic sharia law, will be enforced by the Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Propagation of Virtue. They were originally based on a decree issued by the Taliban’s supreme spiritual leader in 2022 and have now been officially published as law, a Justice Ministry spokesperson confirmed.
The morality ministry, officially known as the Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Propagation of Virtue, has already been enforcing similar requirements, claiming to have detained thousands of individuals for violations. However, it remains unclear whether the publication of these rules will lead to stricter enforcement.
The 35-article morality law was officially enacted and published on Wednesday after being ratified by Supreme Spiritual Leader Haibatullah Akhundzada, according to Justice Ministry spokesperson Barakatullah Rasoli.
“According to this law, the Ministry (for the Prevention of Vice and Propagation of Virtue) is obligated to promote good and forbid evil in accordance with Islamic Sharia,” the Justice Ministry said in a statement.
The requirements include women wearing attire that fully covers their bodies and faces, and bars men from shaving their beards, skipping prayer, and neglecting religious fasts. Penalties for violations range from “advice, warnings of divine punishment, verbal threats, confiscation of property, and detention for one hour to three days in public jails, and any other punishment deemed appropriate,” the Justice Ministry added.
