In an era where the world is rapidly advancing into modern times, the Taliban government is once again focused on implementing and enforcing moral laws. On one hand, the Taliban government has yet to be recognized by any state, while on the other hand, in a diplomatic move, the UAE accepted the Afghan representative at the diplomatic meeting held in Qatar, signaling that Afghanistan is gaining strength diplomatically.
In response to global criticism of their recent moral laws, Taliban officials stated that rejecting these laws without understanding Islamic principles reflects “arrogance.” Therefore, we cannot violate such laws, keeping Islamic teachings in mind.
The 35-article law, announced by the Ministry of Justice, instructs women to fully cover themselves and not raise their voices in public. Additionally, other laws have been implemented to restrict women’s movement and behavior.
These laws also include restrictions on men’s clothing, participation in prayers, keeping images of living beings, homosexuality, animal fights, and playing music in public places.
The United Nations, human rights organizations, and Afghan citizens have expressed concerns that these laws will lead to stricter enforcement of lifestyle and behavioral regulations. These laws had been informally in place since the Taliban took power, but now they have been formally codified.
Recently, Taliban government spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid issued a statement in which he labeled the reports of UN Human Rights Ambassador Richard Bennett as propaganda and even banned the ambassador from entering the country. In response, EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell stated that “this decision is another severe blow to the rights of Afghan women and girls, which cannot be tolerated.”
Borrell urged the Taliban to end the “systematic persecution” of Afghan women and girls and warned that this could amount to gender-based violence, which is a crime against humanity under international law.
Additionally, the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, Rosa Otunbayeva, described this law as “a concerning outlook for Afghanistan’s future,” where moral inspectors have excessive and sometimes arbitrary powers to threaten and detain anyone based on a broad list of violations.
The UN and EU statements warned that this law could damage the Taliban government’s chances of engaging with the international community.
The Taliban government needs to examine this serious matter closely, as such harsh decisions may not be in Afghanistan’s best interest. The Taliban government must adopt a softer tone in upholding these moral laws to strengthen its diplomatic standing while avoiding international sanctions for human rights violations. This approach could help the government gain recognition.
While the Taliban government is promoting trade with an $8 billion investment, it should also reconsider its strict stance, particularly the ban on women’s and girls’ education, and resolve this issue as soon as possible. This would enhance their chances of gaining recognition from the European Union and the United Nations.
Contributed by NAVEED AHMAD JATOI, who is a final year student of M.A International Relations at University of Karachi.
