Taliban cracks down on women’s rights again, ban singing and public speaking

August 25, 2024

By Samuel Ogunsona

The Taliban regime has issued a sweeping ban on women’s voices in public, prohibiting singing, reading, and any form of vocal expression.

The decree, announced on state-run media, dictates that women’s voices cannot be broadcast on radio, television, or social media

Female singers and musicians are barred from performing publicly and also women cannot read aloud in public, including in educational settings

This latest restriction further erodes women’s rights in Afghanistan, already severely curtailed since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.

Inshallah we assure you that this Islamic law will be of great help in the promotion of virtue and the elimination of vice,’ said ministry spokesman Maulvi Abdul Ghafar Farooq.

Human Rights Watch condemned the ban, stating, “This outrageous decree silences women’s voices, stifling their creativity, education, and self-expression.”

Afghan women’s rights activist, Fatima Rahmani, lamented, “Our voices are being erased. This ban is a stark reminder of the Taliban’s disregard for women’s dignity and basic human rights.”

The international community has denounced the ban, urging the Taliban to reverse this oppressive policy.

As Afghanistan descends deeper into authoritarianism, women’s voices are being systematically silenced. The world must stand in solidarity with Afghan women, demanding an end to these draconian restrictions.