Afghanistan: Taliban Bans Women from Hearing Each Other While Praying
Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban's minister for the propagation of virtue and prevention of vice, has banned women from performing Takbir — an Islamic prayer — or reciting the Quran aloud in the presence of other women....
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Facts
- Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban's minister for the propagation of virtue and prevention of vice, has banned women from performing Takbir — an Islamic prayer — or reciting the Quran aloud in the presence of other women.[1][2]
- In an audio clip released Oct. 26, Hanafi said women aren't allowed to utter terms like 'Alhamdulillah' or 'Subhanallah' to other women during prayer. Additionally, women who aren't performing Takbir have been forbidden to sing.[3][4][5]
- The Taliban's 'virtue law' determines that women's voices must remain concealed ('awrah'), requires them to wear fully-covering attires, and forbids the showing of living beings on television.[4][5]
- The legislation, introduced in August, covers various aspects of daily life, public behavior, and media restrictions. It even bars taxi drivers from ferrying women unaccompanied by a suitable male escort.[6][7][8]
- It also deems a woman's voice to be a vice and intimate, and prohibits it from being heard singing, reciting, or reading aloud in public. In March, many education centers in Kabul were shut down for registering female students beyond the sixth grade.[6][7][9]
- The change also empowers the ministry for the propagation of virtue and prevention of vice to regulate personal conduct and administer punishments, such as warnings or arrests, for alleged violations.[6][7]
Sources: [1]Amu TV, [2]The Media Line, [3]8Am, [4]Afghanistan International, [5]The Telegraph, [6]CNN, [7]NBC, [8]Guardian and [9]Greenprophet.
Narratives
- Narrative A, as provided by SBS News. The Taliban's new laws are necessary to promote virtue and eliminate vice in Afghan society. These regulations align with Islamic principles and will help maintain moral standards. The ministry's efforts are crucial for guiding citizens toward righteous behavior and preserving cultural values.
- Narrative B, as provided by PJ Media. These draconian laws are a severe violation of human rights. The Taliban's actions contradict their initial promises of inclusivity and demonstrate a regression in Afghan society. International pressure and sanctions are needed to protect the rights and freedoms of Afghan citizens, especially women.
