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# The Taliban's New Decree: Silencing Women and Reinforcing Oppressive Laws

## An Abrupt Curtailment of Women’s Religious Practice

In a recent decree issued by Afghanistan’s Taliban-led Ministry of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, a disturbing new restriction has been announced. Afghan women are now prohibited from reciting prayers or Quranic verses aloud, even in private settings where other women are present. This edict aims to silence women’s voices not only socially but even within the sanctity of their own homes, marking a significant escalation in the Taliban’s ongoing effort to control every aspect of women’s lives.

## The Context of Increasing Restrictions