Nearly half of Afghan men are enforcing the Taliban’s Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice law on their families, according to a new report by the UN Human Rights Office.
The report, released Saturday, said the controversial law is being implemented not only by Taliban officials but also through social pressure from relatives, neighbours and community leaders. A UN survey found that enforcement by male family members has doubled over the past year, rising from 22 precent to 44 precent.
The Taliban has also expanded its official enforcement network, recruiting more than 2,300 morality police with broad authority to detain people accused of violations. These enforcers, with offices across Afghanistan, strictly monitor citizens’ behaviour, dress and public conduct.
The UN report, to be presented to the Human Rights Council, said the law has deepened gender discrimination, entrenched submission within families and spread fear throughout society.
The report stated that the Vice and Virtue law reflects the Taliban leadership’s determination to impose their vision of a pure Islamic system across the country.
The Human Rights Office warned that the law has formalised the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islam and sharply restricted personal freedoms, particularly for women. Victims of gender-based violence, it said, face “severe obstacles” in seeking justice, while Taliban officials have also been implicated in cases of forced marriage.
The report noted that Afghans continue to face overlapping crises, including economic collapse, unemployment, limited access to healthcare and the effects of climate change. The return of more than two million migrants in the past six months has further strained resources, worsening what the UN described as an already dire humanitarian situation.
