Taliban bans Afghan women from praying aloud together

The Taliban has issued a new decree further restricting Afghan women's freedoms, prohibiting them from praying aloud in the presence of one another. Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, the Taliban's minister for the propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice, announced that women should refrain from reciting the Quran audibly around other women. He justified this by claiming a woman's voice is considered "awrah," something that must be concealed and not heard in public, even among females.

Hanafi stated that if women cannot call Takbir or Azan, the Islamic calls to prayer, they should certainly not engage in singing or enjoying music. This latest restriction raises concerns among experts who fear it could inhibit women's ability to express themselves, further marginalizing them in public life.

This decree adds to a series of oppressive measures imposed on women since the Taliban regained control in 2021, including a mandate for full-body coverings and face veils in public. Female healthcare workers, among the few Afghan women allowed to work outside, are also restricted from speaking publicly, particularly with male relatives. As these measures multiply, the situation for women in Afghanistan continues to deteriorate, alarming human rights advocates worldwide.