RASC News Agency: several prominent religious scholars have denounced the Taliban for selectively adhering to Islamic principles and issuing decrees that fundamentally contradict the teachings of Islam. These scholars specifically criticized the Taliban leader’s decree on enforcing virtue, stating, “Islam has never prohibited the voice, appearance, or movement of Muslim women.” A recent decree by the Taliban’s leader declared women’s voices to be “Awrah” (improper or impermissible to be heard) and required absolute obedience to the Taliban. This directive has been widely condemned by international organizations, Afghanistani women, and human rights advocates, who labeled it as misogynistic and misleading. Several nations have also called for its immediate repeal.
In recent months, the Taliban have issued multiple edicts imposing severe restrictions on Afghanistani citizens, particularly women. Among these is a ruling that prohibits an adult woman from hearing the voice of another adult woman, which has drawn extensive criticism both domestically and internationally, including from Islamic nations and religious scholars. Despite the global backlash, the Taliban remain steadfast in their policies. Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban’s Minister for the Propagation of Virtue, recently visited western Afghanistan, urging residents of Farah province to ignore “enemy propaganda and media narratives” and to support the Taliban. He further called on the public to assist in implementing virtue and preventing women from entering markets. During a subsequent visit to Herat, he appealed to citizens to unite with the Taliban in enforcing their newly introduced Vice and Virtue Law.
Mawlawi Mudasir, a well-known religious scholar, told “RASC”, “Most of the Taliban’s recent decrees are anti-Islamic. This group manipulates Islam to serve their own interests. Islam has never declared a woman’s voice impermissible or prohibited her from leaving her home.” Human rights organizations and women’s rights activists have warned that the global community’s failure to address the Taliban’s systematic violations of women’s rights risks pushing Afghanistani women toward armed resistance. They assert that the Taliban’s actions, including gender-based discrimination and targeted suppression of women, have plunged Afghanistani society into a deepening crisis.
