Women in Afghanistan are not forbidden from speaking to one another, the Taliban government's morality ministry told AFP on November 9, denying recent media reports of a ban. Afghan media based outside the country and international outlets have in recent weeks reported a ban on women hearing other women's voices, based on an audio recording of the head of the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, Mohammad Khalid Hanafi, about rules of prayer. Ministry spokesman Saiful Islam Khyber said the reports were "brainless" and "illogical," in a voice recording confirmed by AFP.
Afghan Women Not Barred From Speaking To Each Other, Says Taliban
- By AFP

Editors' Picks
Afghanistan/Pakistan Trending
1
Kabul On Course To Be World's First Capital To Run Out Of Water
2Hundreds Of Thousands Of Afghans Forced To Leave Iran Amid Crackdown, UN Says
3Iran-Israel Conflict Puts Pakistan's Diplomatic Balancing Act To The Test
4Taliban's Closure Of Women's Shelters Leaves Afghan Women Vulnerable To Abuse
5A Star Gone Missing: Afghan Singer Vanishes In Country Where Music Is Forbidden
6US Court Temporarily Halts Bid To End Protection Status For Afghans
7Suicide Bombing Kills 13 Soldiers In Northwestern Pakistan
8An Afghan Singer, Once Propelled To Fame On TV Show, Goes Missing In Kabul
9Masses Of Afghans Being Deported From Pakistan Face Angst And Uncertainty
10Discord In Pakistan: Afghan Musicians Who Fled The Taliban Fear Deportation
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.