New Taliban Decree Limits Official Communication to Designated Spokespersons

Speaking in Sar-e-Pul province, Hanafi described the newly signed "Law for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" as a demand from "the people of Afghanistan" and urged the international community to avoid "undue criticism”.

According to reports from Taliban-controlled National Radio and Television, Hanafi emphasised that the propagation of virtue is a "divine decree" and asserted that the Taliban government has an obligation to uphold these principles. He further stated that the establishment of the Taliban regime was intended to "implement the rituals of Islam”.

On Monday, the Taliban-controlled Bakhtar News Agency quoted Hanafi as affirming that the newly enacted law is rooted in Islamic provisions. He also warned that anyone opposing the law will be held accountable.

The Taliban recently announced that their leader ratified the "Law for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice," which has introduced various restrictions on women in both public and private life. Human rights activists have condemned the new law, labelling it as a continuation of the Taliban's efforts to suppress and marginalise women from public life.

The organisation stated on Sunday that Afghan women are bearing the brunt of the reduced aid in Afghanistan.

Last month, WFP reported that in 2024, it had supported at least 1.6 million pregnant and breastfeeding women by distributing nutritious food.

According to a June report from the World Health Organisation, every day, 24 mothers and 167 children across Afghanistan lose their lives due to preventable pregnancy and childbirth-related illnesses.

The World Food Programme has previously described Afghanistan as the worst country in the world for women.

During her visit, Otunbayeva met Mohammad Sadiq Inqilabi, the Taliban's Deputy Governor of Kandahar.

The visit focused on discussions regarding the cultivation of alternative crops to poppies, a key issue in the region known for its reliance on poppy production.

Otunbayeva reiterated the UN's commitment to assisting farmers in transitioning to alternative crops, a move seen as essential for both economic and social stability in the area.

During the meeting, Otunbayeva highlighted the UN's humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan, noting that over the past year, the organisation has provided aid to 26 million people across the country through various agencies.

In response, Inqilabi called for further UN support in addressing the issue of drug addiction and promoting alternative livelihoods. He also claimed that Afghanistan enjoys "absolute security" under Taliban rule and urged Otunbayeva to encourage international investors to consider opportunities in the country.

The visit comes just days after Taliban leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada ratified the group's Law on the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. The law has raised concerns among international observers, with UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) expressing worry that the legislation could further curtail rights and perpetuate a climate of fear.

On Saturday, August 24, UNAMA urged the Taliban to clarify specific provisions of the law, warning that continued restrictions on rights would complicate efforts by the international community to engage constructively with the Taliban regime.

During a press briefing in Kabul on Sunday, 25 August, Nadeem explained that discussing the issue is currently futile, as no satisfactory answers can be provided at this time.

Addressing the ongoing ban on women's education, Nadeem stated that those lacking religious authority should refrain from positioning themselves as scholars on the matter. "We have demonstrated that our decrees are in full accordance with Islam and Sharia law," the minister declared. He further emphasised that the Taliban's policies on women's education are not in conflict with "Islamic laws and Afghan traditions."

Nadeem acknowledged that the issue is complex and sensitive, making immediate decisions difficult. He mentioned that religious scholars are currently examining the matter, and if it is determined that women's education is permissible under specific conditions, the ban may be lifted. Otherwise, the suspension will remain in place.

The minister also challenged religious scholars to prove, under the Hanafi school of Islamic jurisprudence, that women's education is permissible, stating that the issue would be resolved if such proof were found. He referenced the Taliban leader's stance, asserting that "the ruler is bound by Sharia, and we are servants of Sharia; whatever Sharia decides will be implemented."

It has now been three years since the Taliban closed schools for girls above sixth grade. The Taliban have banned women's education "until further notice" and, in response to international criticism, insisted that the matter is an "internal affair of Afghanistan." They have repeatedly stated that international organisations and foreign governments have no right to interfere in this issue.

Previously, on 4 July, UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo remarked that human rights and girls' education in Afghanistan are not solely domestic concerns, as the country is bound by international obligations.

UNAMA has called on the Taliban to clarify certain provisions of this law.

In a statement issued on Saturday, UNAMA said, "The international community has been seeking, in good faith, to constructively engage with the de facto authorities. The world wants to see Afghanistan on the path of peace and prosperity, where all Afghans have a stake in their future, are citizens with rights and not just subjects to be disciplined. Further restricting the rights of the Afghan people and holding them in constant fear will make achieving this goal even harder,”

UNAMA's statement highlighted that the article 35 of "Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice" law, recently ratified by the Taliban leader, imposes extensive restrictions on personal conduct while granting broad enforcement powers to the morality police.

Rosa Otunbayeva, UN special envoy in Kabul, remarked, "It is a distressing vision for Afghanistan’s future, where moral inspectors have discretionary powers to threaten and detain anyone based on broad and sometimes vague lists of infractions."

Otunbayeva noted that the law intensifies previous restrictions and even considers women's voices outside the home as a moral offence.

The UNAMA statement also pointed out that the new law, by completely ignoring the diversity of Afghanistan's religious community, has concerning implications for religious freedoms in the country, and these restrictions also affect the work of journalists and the media.

UNAMA emphasised that Afghans should not be punished simply for being late to prayer, looking at a woman who is not a family member, or carrying photos of their loved ones.

The statement also mentioned that UNAMA is currently assessing the law's impact on the Afghan people and international humanitarian aid to the country.