Taliban Implements Ban on Women's Vocal Prayers in Public and Private Spaces in Afghanistan

The Taliban has issued a series of restrictions on Afghan women, with the latest prohibiting them from praying loudly or reciting the Quran in front of other women. This new rule is in addition to previous restrictions, including a ban on women speaking in public, which was implemented in August, and a prohibition on women reciting the Quran aloud, as announced by Minister of Vice and Virtue Mohammad Khalid Hanafi. Women in Afghanistan are already subject to various limitations, including being excluded from education after sixth grade, being restricted from accessing many public spaces, and being excluded from most jobs. The new restriction on praying and reciting the Quran is seen as a continuation of the Taliban's efforts to enforce their interpretation of Islamic morality and restrict the rights and freedoms of Afghan women.