For those in India who are proponents of having diplomatic relations with the Taliban, news of this law was introduced by The Prevention of Vice Manual wherein the Taliban discourages people from “helping, befriending… infidels” should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Taliban officials in provinces controlled by them in Afghanistan are now imposing rules that harsher than the abusive, puritanical policies announced by their leaders in Kabul.
According to the Human Rights Watch (HRW), Taliban authorities do not comply with the rights protections of minorities.
Heather Barr, associate women’s rights director at Human Rights Watch said, “The Taliban’s world view and abusive practices have been relatively consistent, as this manual demonstrates,”.
“Countries that spent the last 20 years promoting human rights in Afghanistan need to negotiate with the Taliban to try to end worsening rights violations, including against women and girls,” she added.
The manual which is no different than what the Taliban had imposed back in 1996, instructs religious leaders to advise men on growing their beards, praying or fast as required by religious obligations and those who do not comply are to be reported.
There is also prohibition on parties and listening to music audible outside a home, cinemas, gambling, and “inappropriate use of tape cassettes, dish antenna, computer, and mobile.”
The concept of mahram (a chaperone) for women and older girls has again been introduced that states women “shall be commanded to put on a veil when faced with non-mahrams. Women shall be prohibited from not wearing hijab and veil in public and against non-mahrams,” but adds that these mandates should be enforced in “an easy and kind way.”
During the Taliban’s last reagin from 1996 to 2001, Hindus and Sikhs of Afghanistan were forced to wear yellow badges the same way the Nazis did with Jews when Hitler was in power.
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