Taliban bans women from singing, reading in public

The Taliban has introduced stringent new laws in Afghanistan, targeting the presence of women in public spaces.

Approved by Supreme Leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, the rules were announced on Wednesday and focus on aspects of daily life, including public transportation, music, and interactions between genders.

Among the new regulations, women are required to fully veil themselves in public, with strict guidelines on clothing to prevent temptation.

Women's voices are now considered "intimate," prohibiting them from singing, reciting, or reading aloud in public.

These laws represent the first formal declaration of vice and virtue regulations since the Taliban's return to power in 2021.

The Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, established at that time, will enforce the new rules, which include bans on music, the transportation of solo female travelers, and the mixing of unrelated men and women.

The UN has expressed concern over these developments, citing an increasing climate of fear and intimidation, particularly for women and girls in Afghanistan.