KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban’s morality police announced on Monday that they had arrested a man and a woman in Kabul’s Police District 5 on charges of an “illicit relationship,” bringing the total number of people detained in less than a month to 28.
The two individuals have been handed over to the Taliban judiciary for further action, according to the statement.
Since October 30, Taliban morality enforcers have arrested 26 others across the provinces of Kabul, Logar, Kandahar, and Farah, citing various offenses, including alleged violations of the group’s strict rules on personal conduct.
The Taliban’s controversial new morality law, introduced in August, grants broad authority to the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice to detain and punish individuals. Among the most contentious provisions are restrictions targeting women, including a ban on the public audibility of their voices.
The law mandates comprehensive covering for women, stating: “Covering the entire body is obligatory. Concealing a woman’s face is necessary to prevent temptation. The voice of a woman (reciting, singing, or speaking loudly in gatherings) is considered indecent.”
Another provision prohibits unrelated men and women from looking at one another, defining such actions as forbidden. It also stipulates that women leaving their homes for “necessary purposes” must ensure that their faces, voices, and bodies are fully covered.
Taliban morality enforcers are empowered to stop and discipline any woman or girl who fails to comply with these rules.
The law has sparked sharp criticism domestically and internationally, with human rights organizations condemning it as a severe violation of basic freedoms. Despite the backlash, Taliban officials have insisted on its strict enforcement.
