In a continuation of restrictions on Afghan citizens, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has issued a new decree prohibiting ribbon-cutting at events, walking on carpets with shoes in government buildings, mixed martial arts competitions and celebrating holidays such as Teacher’s Day and Valentine’s Day.
The decree, issued in May, was confirmed by Taliban authorities on July 27.
Hamidullah Fitrat, a Taliban deputy spokesperson, confirmed the order in a chat with Amu.
The decree labels activities like ribbon-cutting and celebrating certain holidays as practices that resemble “non-Muslim customs.”
Walking with shoes on carpets in government offices was also described as being akin to “infidel behavior.”
Additionally, the decree bans mixed martial arts (MMA), citing the risk of injury and death, which the Taliban consider contrary to Islamic law.
The Taliban have intensified their restrictions on personal freedoms, particularly targeting women and girls.
Last month, they introduced new legislation imposing severe limitations on women’s rights and freedoms, including bans on education beyond the sixth grade, access to public spaces, and employment in most sectors.
Meanwhile, Australia, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands are pursuing legal action to hold the Taliban accountable for violating the U.N. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which Afghanistan ratified in 2003.
This unprecedented legal effort, announced Wednesday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York, seeks to address the Taliban’s treatment of women.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, they have implemented widespread restrictions on women, barring them from education, limiting their presence in public spaces, and prohibiting them from working in most professions.
