Taliban Kabul Governor Says Administration Founded on Promotion of Virtue Principles

Aminullah Abid, the Taliban governor for Kabul, stated that the foundation and strength of their administration is based on the principles of Amr bil Ma'ruf (Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice). He described the law as divine, saying no one has the right to interfere with it. Abid made these remarks on Sunday during a meeting of the 'Committee for Implementing the Amr bil Ma'ruf Law' in the capital. He instructed officials to interact with people using 'soft language, good morals, and Islamic principles.'

Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, said the Taliban's Amr bil Ma'ruf law represents a severe setback for human rights in the country. The law restricts many rights and freedoms of citizens, particularly women, considering women's voices as awrah and criminalizing their public presence without a mahram. The Taliban's Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue has established committees to enforce the law across all provinces, granting muhtasebs broad powers to inspect citizens' beliefs, dress, and behavior.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) stated last year, citing World Bank findings, that the law inflicts $1.5 billion in annual economic damage. Amnesty International has called it an 'outrageous attack on human rights,' while UN Deputy Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo described it as 'contrary to human conscience.' Despite international criticism, the Taliban have worked to implement the law nationwide over the past year.

Afghanistan International published a video on Saturday showing a forced confession from a teenage girl in Helmand province detained by the Taliban for dressing as a boy to work in a local restaurant. The girl, identifying as Noria, said she disguised herself as 'Noor Ahmad' out of 'absolute necessity' to support her family, as there was no man at home to provide for them. She had worked there for three years, with her salary increasing from 7,000 to 10,000 afghanis.

Separately, traders and market owners, including Jamil, owner of Chami market in Khost province, accuse Taliban Justice Minister Abdul Hakim Shari'i of extortion under the pretext of reclaiming usurped lands. Despite legal ownership documents and municipal confirmation, rents are directed to an account specified by Shari'i.