Understanding the Taliban’s New Ban on Women’s Voices
Under the Taliban’s latest decree, Afghan women are prohibited from speaking, singing, or reading aloud in a manner that allows others to hear. This edict even extends to reciting sacred texts such as the Quran, regardless of whether they are in private or in the presence of other women.
What Does the Ban Entail?
The directive implies that Afghan women cannot publicly express their voices under any circumstance. Taliban officials claim this is an effort to “preserve virtue,” categorizing a woman’s voice as awrah—a term in Islamic jurisprudence signifying parts of the body or voice that should remain private.
Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the minister responsible for enforcing morality under the Taliban’s governance, elaborated on this rule, stating that if women are forbidden from calling the athan (Islamic call to prayer), singing or any form of vocal expression must naturally be prohibited. The silence imposed on Afghan women now extends beyond public spaces, infiltrating their homes as they are forced into quieter, constrained lives.
How Does This Ban Fit into Broader Restrictions on Afghan Women?
This restriction on women’s voices is the latest in a series of decrees aimed at erasing women’s visibility and presence in Afghan society.
1. Full-Body Covering Mandate
In addition to silencing women, the Taliban has enforced a strict dress code, mandating that Afghan women cover their entire bodies—including their faces—in public. Dark, loose garments such as the traditional burqa have become commonplace, enforced by an ever-watchful government. For Afghan women, stepping outside their homes now means enveloping themselves in fabric that only reveals their eyes.
2. Limits on Women’s Movement and Social Presence
Under Taliban rule, Afghan women cannot travel without a male guardian and are often refused transportation by taxi drivers if they are unaccompanied. This restriction has stripped away the autonomy of women, who previously relied on these services to travel for work, education, or social gatherings.
3. Silence in Professional Settings
Reports indicate that women in professions still accessible to them, such as healthcare, must avoid speaking to male relatives or officials. A midwife from Herat revealed to Amu TV that she cannot communicate with male family members about health matters, even if it’s a critical part of her job. Taliban officials closely monitor these interactions to prevent any potential breach of the “morality” guidelines.
The Impacts on Afghan Women and Their Daily Lives
The Taliban’s rule silencing women is reshaping daily life, forcing Afghan women to navigate a world where even the act of speaking becomes a calculated risk.
Loss of Identity and Personal Autonomy
With each new restriction, Afghan women are losing not only their voices but also their identities. Speaking, singing, and even making eye contact are now potential offenses under Taliban governance. These mandates drive women to retreat further into isolation and self-censorship, stripping them of the basic right to express themselves freely.
Fear of Retaliation and Detainment
For women and girls, breaking these rules can lead to severe consequences. Violations often result in detention, harassment, or public shaming. Taxi drivers who transport women without a male guardian risk punishment, creating a dangerous dynamic where women are effectively stranded in their homes.
Psychological and Social Isolation
Many Afghan women now describe their lives under Taliban rule as akin to “being in a prison.” Women who were once activists and educators are now hidden behind layers of fabric, forced into silence. The fear of punishment has led many to adopt these oppressive practices, even if they are not being directly monitored. The few women still visible in public are often shrouded in dark blue or black, cloaked and silenced.
International Response to Taliban’s Restrictions
Global advocates and human rights organizations have condemned these actions, which they see as violations of basic human rights. Roza Otunbayeva, the United Nations’ special representative for Afghanistan, recently denounced these increasing restrictions, calling them “intolerable” and urging international action. Women’s rights groups worldwide have been vocal about the need to address the Taliban’s oppressive governance.
Why Is the World Concerned about Afghanistan’s Future?
The Taliban’s systematic erasure of women’s rights not only affects Afghan women but also poses a global issue regarding human rights and gender equality. By stripping women of their voices, visibility, and freedom, the Taliban’s actions undermine years of efforts to create an inclusive society in Afghanistan.
A Grim Reality for Afghan Women
Afghan women today live in constant fear, facing stringent regulations that control how they speak, move, and dress. Even small interactions, like speaking aloud in a safe space or exchanging words with a friend, are now at risk of becoming punishable acts. The Taliban’s intensified restrictions reflect a government determined to suppress women’s presence in all aspects of life, reducing them to a silent, hidden part of society.
FAQs
1. Why has the Taliban banned women from ‘hearing each other’s voices’?
The Taliban government claims that a woman’s voice is a potential “instrument of vice,” treating it as something private and prohibited from being heard in public. They argue that these measures are to uphold moral standards, silencing women as a means to prevent “temptation” and “vice.”
2. Does this rule extend to religious recitations like the Quran?
Yes, even the recitation of the Quran is restricted under this rule. Women are prohibited from reading aloud, even in private or in the company of other women. According to Taliban officials, women are not allowed to raise their voices in prayer, singing, or any form of vocal expression, viewing this as a moral safeguard.
3. What other restrictions has the Taliban imposed on women?
In addition to the vocal restrictions, Afghan women must cover their entire bodies, including their faces, in public. They are also forbidden from traveling without a male guardian, limited in their ability to work, and are not allowed to engage with male family members or officials in certain professional settings, such as healthcare.
4. What are the penalties if women violate these restrictions?
Women who violate the Taliban’s restrictions risk detainment, harassment, or other forms of punishment. Taxi drivers, for example, can face penalties if they transport unaccompanied women. This punitive environment has left Afghan women in a state of constant caution and self-censorship.
5. How has the international community responded?
The international community, including the United Nations, has condemned these restrictions. Roza Otunbayeva, the UN’s special representative for Afghanistan, called these measures “intolerable,” urging action to address the Taliban’s oppressive policies on women’s rights.
6. Are Afghan women allowed any public or social presence?
Since the Taliban’s return to power, Afghan women’s public presence has been severely restricted. Women who do appear in public are shrouded from head to toe, with only a small number daring to be visible. Most women have retreated from public and professional life, becoming invisible in Afghan society.
Conclusion
The Taliban’s ban on women’s voices is the latest in a long line of repressive edicts aimed at erasing women from Afghan society. This rule doesn’t just silence women in public—it isolates them within their homes, limits their ability to work, and cuts off even the simple act of speaking to others. Under the Taliban’s rule, Afghan women have become silent shadows, forced to retreat from society to avoid punishment.
International outcry is strong, but the path to meaningful change remains uncertain. As Afghan women face the grim reality of these escalating restrictions, the global community has a moral obligation to amplify their voices and advocate for their rights. For now, Afghan women are forced into silence, hoping that one day they might regain the voices that have been taken from them
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