Additional Coverage:
The Taliban have imposed new restrictions on women in Afghanistan, banning them from praying in the presence of other women. The ban also prohibits women from speaking loudly enough to be heard outside their homes.
The Vice and Virtue Ministry’s acting minister, Khalid Hanafi, announced the ban in a voice message on social media. He said that women must not pray or recite Quranic verses aloud if another woman is present, even in their own homes.
The ban is part of a series of oppressive measures imposed on women by the Taliban, which include requiring them to have a male guardian when leaving the house and covering their faces in public.
Women who violate the rules face arrest and imprisonment. A recent report by the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan found that women arrested by the Taliban have been subjected to sexual violence, including rape.
The Taliban claim that these restrictions are necessary to prevent women from “tempting” others. However, the UN report has concluded that the Taliban’s actions may amount to crimes against humanity, including gender persecution.