In an unprecedented restriction, the Taliban has now forbidden women from making their voices heard by other women in public. This ruling marks another severe blow to women’s freedoms in Afghanistan.

The Taliban's latest law escalates their crusade against women's public presence and expressions under their harsh doctrine, The Christian Post reported.

Since the Taliban's takeover in August 2021 following the withdrawal of U.S. forces, the group has aggressively reimposed its strict version of Sharia law.

The U.S. had ended its 20-year military presence, which had initially ousted the Taliban regime, leading to a rapid and tumultuous control by the group.

Fallout From The US Withdrawal Resurfaces Tension

The transition of power was marked by chaos, culminating in a catastrophic bombing at the Kabul airport that claimed the lives of 13 American servicemen.

The dark days of Taliban policies returned, voiding any promises made by international forces about securing human rights protections in the nation.

Alongside the recent silencing rule, the Taliban has introduced a series of "vice and virtue" laws directed solely at women.

These laws include mandatory face coverings, public speaking bans, and the requirement that women must be accompanied by a man when outside. These measures have been both shocking and regressive, drawing international condemnation yet lacking effective opposition within the country.

Global Human Rights Advocates Slam Vice and Virtue Laws

Ravina Shamdasani, a spokesperson for the Office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, was forthright in her denunciation of these changes. Shamdasani's statements urging the repeal of such laws highlight their violation of international human rights commitments.

The details of how this latest ban on women’s voices will be enforced remain ambiguous. Still, it further complicates the lives of women who were already navigating an array of prohibitions on their basic rights.

The measure was publicized by Taliban official Khalid Hanafi, who provided unsettling examples of its implementation. According to Hanafi, the restrictions are so extensive that women cannot even pray aloud if another woman overhears them praying.

Voices From Within Afghanistan Express Distress

The repercussions of such laws have had profound personal impacts on Afghan women. Quotes from those living under the regime paint a grim portrait of daily life. “This is a form of mental torture for us," one woman from Kabul said, describing the severe limitations imposed on even the simplest act of speaking.

Another added, “Life in Afghanistan is incredibly painful for us as women. They say we cannot hear other women’s voices, and I do not understand where these views come from.”

An unnamed human rights activist criticized the measure, questioning its practical implications for women who are the sole providers for their families, “How are women supposed to buy bread, seek medical care, or simply exist if even their voices are forbidden?"

Despite the severe restrictions, the international response has remained faint, giving the Taliban a free hand in implementing their restrictive laws. The pain and isolation felt by Afghan women suggest a deepening humanitarian crisis with few visible signs of relief.