Six weeks after regulations governing people’s do came into force, a UN report reported on Thursday that the Taliban morality police in Afghanistan have detained people and their salons over haircuts and others for missing blessings at temples during the sacred month of Ramadan.
Last August, the Vice and Virtue Ministry approved laws that covered a wide range of aspects of daily life in Afghanistan, including public transportation, music, cutting, and activities. Most notable is the ministry’s ban on women’s plain faces and voices in public.
A major UN established warned the laws, which would “distress” the country’s coming by enforcing existing restrictions on women and girls ‘ work, education, and dress code, in the same month. Representatives from the Taliban have refuted UN worries about conscience.
Over half of detentions made under the law, according to the UN mission in Afghanistan’s report on Thursday, involved “either men not having the obedient hair length or hair, or barbers providing non-compliant hair trimming or haircuts” in the first six months of the law’s implementation.
According to the report, the morality police frequently detained people haphazardly “without due process and legal safeguards.”
People’s attendance at mandated evangelical prayers was carefully monitored during the holy month of Ramadan, the statement continued, which could result in random detention of those who didn’t arrive, the statement continued.
According to the UN mission, both sexes were severely impacted, especially those who own small businesses like personal training centers, barbers and hairdressers, tailors, marriage caterers, and restaurants, leading to a decrease or total loss of income and job opportunities.
According to the report, the direct and indirect socio-economic effects of the laws ‘ implementation were likely to worsen Afghanistan’s dire economic situation. According to a World Bank study, the government’s ban on women from attending school and working could cost the nation more than$ 1.4 billion annually.
However, Hibatullah Akhundzada, the leader of the Taliban, has emphasized the importance of Islamic law and the role of the Ministry of Vice and Virtue in the reform of Afghan society and its citizens.
Akhundzada stated in a message sent ahead of the religious Eid Al-Fitr festival, which commemorates the conclusion of Ramadan, that it was necessary to” create a society free from trials, and prevent future generations from becoming victims of misguided beliefs, harmful practices, and bad morals.”
More than 3,300 mostly male inspectors are charged with making laws and enforcing them, according to the report.
According to its spokesman Saif ur Rahman Khyber, the ministry has resolved thousands of people’s complaints and protected the rights of Afghan women.
This included “putting into practice divine decrees in the areas of promoting virtue, preventing vice, establishing affirmations, preventing bad deeds, and eliminating bad customs” as well.
He said the ministry had practiced all of its Islamic and human rights and had refrained from” sabotage or spreading rumors” about its activities.
