The Taliban含羞草研究社檚 new vice and virtue laws that include a ban on women含羞草研究社檚 voices and bare faces in public provide a 含羞草研究社渄istressing vision含羞草研究社� for Afghanistan含羞草研究社檚 future, a top U.N. official warned Sunday.
Roza Otunbayeva, who heads the U.N. mission in the country, said the laws extend the 含羞草研究社渁lready intolerable restrictions含羞草研究社� on the rights of women and girls, with 含羞草研究社渆ven the sound of a female voice含羞草研究社� outside the home apparently deemed a moral violation.
Afghanistan含羞草研究社檚 Taliban rulers last Wednesday issued the country含羞草研究社檚 first set of laws to prevent vice and promote virtue. They include a requirement for a woman to conceal her face, body and voice outside the home.
The laws empower the Vice and Virtue Ministry to be at the front line of regulating personal conduct and administering punishments like warnings or arrest if its enforcers allege that Afghans have broken the laws.
含羞草研究社淎fter decades of war and in the midst of a terrible humanitarian crisis, the Afghan people deserve much better than being threatened or jailed if they happen to be late for prayers, glance at a member of the opposite sex who is not a family member, or possess a photo of a loved one,含羞草研究社� Otunbayeva said.
The mission said it was studying the newly ratified law and its implications for Afghans, as well as its potential impact on the U.N. and other humanitarian assistance.
Taliban officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the U.N. criticism.
In remarks broadcast Sunday by state-controlled broadcaster RTA, Vice and Virtue Minister Mohammad Khaled Hanafi said nobody had the right to violate women含羞草研究社檚 rights based on inappropriate customs.
含羞草研究社淲e are committed to assure all rights of women based on Islamic law and anyone who has a complaint in this regard will be heard and resolved,含羞草研究社� he added.
Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada said last year that Afghan women are provided with a 含羞草研究社渃omfortable and prosperous含羞草研究社� life, in spite of decrees barring them from many public spaces, education and most jobs.
The U.N. has previously said that official recognition of the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan is nearly impossible while restrictions on women and girls remain.
Although no country recognises the Taliban, many in the region have ties with them.
Last Wednesday, the United Arab Emirates accepted the credentials of the Taliban含羞草研究社檚 ambassador to the oil-rich Gulf Arab state.
A UAE official said the decision reaffirmed the government含羞草研究社檚 determination to contribute to building bridges to help Afghans. 含羞草研究社淭his includes the provision of humanitarian assistance through development and reconstruction projects, and supporting efforts that work towards regional de-escalation and stability.含羞草研究社�
Otunbayeva is scheduled to report to the U.N. Security Council on the situation in Afghanistan on Sept. 18, three years after the Taliban stopped girls含羞草研究社� education beyond sixth grade.
Acting Higher Education Minister Nada Mohammed Nadim said religious scholars were researching female education and it was their findings that would determine if schools and universities will reopen.
含羞草研究社淣obody should make himself a cleric or tell us if education is permitted for women,含羞草研究社� he told a news conference in Kabul on Sunday. 含羞草研究社淲e have proven that any decision won含羞草研究社檛 be against Islamic law or Afghan culture. This is a very sensitive issue so deciding in weeks or months is not possible. We can含羞草研究社檛 say exactly that, on this date, this will be solved.含羞草研究社�
The Associated Press
