Rawadari expresses profound concern regarding the consequences of the Taliban’s new morality law on the fundamental rights and freedoms of Afghans, particularly Afghan women and girls. This law, grounded in an extreme and biased interpretation of Islamic Sharia, will expand a culture of tyranny, suppress freedoms and violate human dignity. Such interpretations stand in stark contrast to the moderate Islamic values upheld by the Afghan society. The people of Afghanistan have consistently adhered to Islamic principles, but these extreme interpretations lack roots in the country and goes against the culture and history of tolerance and peaceful co-existence. Through this law, the Taliban are further promoting human rights violations and imposing new and extensive restrictions on the Afghan population.
- Fostering a Culture of Intimidation and Social Control
The enforcement of the ‘Amr bil-Maruf wa Nahi Aan Munkar’ or morality law with its emphasis on violence, persecution, coercion, and harsh discipline will further cultivate the existing culture of intimidation under the Taliban rule. The law permits Taliban-affiliated individuals and entities to use force, intimidation, and threats to enforce religious norms. This approach violates basic human rights principles and creates an atmosphere of fear and deep mistrust within society.
- Violation of Women’s Rights and Intensifying gender-based discrimination
By imposing severe restrictions on women, including mandatory covering and limitations on women’s public presence and even voice, this law exacerbates gender discrimination and flagrantly violates women’s human rights. These restrictions deprive women of their fundamental rights and freedoms, further erasing them from society.
- Suppression of Freedom of Expression and Belief
This law criminalizes the expression of any views that diverge from those held by the Taliban. The intense control over media, culture, and art, along with restrictions on freedom of expression, result in widespread censorship and suppression of intellectual and cultural creativity. These limitations destroy the free space for dialogue and exchange of ideas in society, only allowing space for the Taliban ideology.
- Violation of Privacy and Interference with Private Life
The law empowers Taliban-affiliated entities and individuals to monitor personal behaviour and private lives, constituting a clear violation of citizens’ privacy. This constant surveillance contradicts human rights principles and increases the risk of abuse by the morality police and encroachment on individual rights.
- Threat to Cultural and Religious Diversity
The new law threatens Afghanistan’s rich cultural and religious diversity by enforcing a specific religious and cultural perspective. This law suppresses minorities and undermines diversity and peaceful coexistence in society. The enforcement of this law will violate the rights of religious minorities and other marginalized communities, deepening social fragmentation.
Rawadari is deeply concerned about the destructive impact of the Taliban’s “Amr bil-Maruf Law” on the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Afghan people. Rather than fostering a culture of respect and coexistence, this law paves the way for abuse of power, intimidation, human rights abuses, and restrictions on individual freedoms.
Rawadari calls on religious scholars and experts, leaders of Islamic countries, the broader international community, and international organizations to intensify efforts to repeal this law and support Afghan women’s demands for justice and equality.