This article explains the Taliban’s new law in Afghanistan, called the “Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice Law.” This law has 35 strict rules that heavily control the lives of Afghan people, especially targeting women and limiting their freedoms. The Taliban leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, is behind this law, which he claims follows Islamic principles. However, the article argues that these rules go against the true spirit of Islam, which promotes kindness, freedom, and choice.
The law forces many restrictions on women. Women are not allowed to leave their homes unless it’s extremely necessary. If they do go outside, they must completely cover their face, body, and even hide their voice, so men who are not family members don’t see or hear them. Women must also have a male relative with them whenever they go out. The law treats non-Muslim women poorly, telling Afghan women to avoid them and look down on them.
Men also face strict rules under this law. They must grow their beards to a specific length (at least the width of a fist) and are banned from wearing neckties or hairstyles that the Taliban think are “un-Islamic.” They are also forbidden from dressing like non-Muslims or celebrating any non-Muslim festivals. Everyone is expected to follow the Taliban’s rules and avoid anything that looks or seems “Western” or non-Muslim.
The law makes prayer a strict duty for all Afghan men. They must pray at specific times, go to the mosque, and pray with other men in a group. Places that attract people, like tourist spots, must build mosques and make sure that visitors and staff pray together. Even drivers are required to stop for prayer times, avoid playing music, and not drive women unless they are fully covered and accompanied by a male relative.
The article explains that these rules contradict the Quran’s teachings, which focus on freedom and choice in religion. The Quran even says that no one should be forced into Islam and discourages forcing beliefs on others. The Prophet Muhammad did not force people to pray, dress in a certain way, or wear specific clothes. Instead, he allowed people to make their own choices.
Strict interpretations of Islam are not new; in the past, other Muslim countries have enforced rules in a similar way. For example, Saudi Arabia had a “morality police” that would punish people for not following strict religious rules. In one tragic incident, these officers prevented schoolgirls from escaping a fire because they were not wearing hijabs, and many of the girls died. Although Saudi Arabia reduced the powers of its morality police in 2016, similar ideas still influence some Muslim societies.
The Taliban’s rules are part of a long history where certain religious leaders and rulers have used the Quran to control people. The Quran’s true purpose is to promote social responsibility and kindness, but some leaders misinterpret it to gain power over others. For example, some leaders redefined the Quran’s concepts of “right” and “wrong” as “virtue” and “vice” to justify policing people’s behaviour. However, the Quran does not give governments or anyone the right to control people’s private lives.
The article ends by encouraging Afghan citizens to resist these extreme rules peacefully. It references thinkers like Albert Camus, who said that resistance is a way to affirm human dignity. The article suggests that if Afghan people come together to peacefully protest, they can stand up to the Taliban’s restrictions and find strength in unity against this form of oppression.
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