Taliban Imposes New Laws Banning Women's Voices in Public

The Taliban's newly introduced vice and virtue laws, which ban on women's voices and bare faces in public, have raised severe concerns among UN officials. Roza Otunbayeva, head of the UN mission in Afghanistan, characterized these measures as exacerbating already severe restrictions on women and girls.

The laws, issued last Wednesday, demand women conceal their faces, bodies, and voices outside their homes. The Ministry of Vice and Virtue is given authority to regulate personal behavior and issue punishments, including warnings and arrest, for perceived violations. Otunbayeva criticized the laws, stating, "The Afghan people deserve much better than being threatened or jailed if they happen to be late for prayers, glance at a member of the opposite sex who is not a family member, or possess a photo of a loved one." Otunbayeva will address the UN Security Council on September 18 regarding the situation. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)