Afghan Taliban Executive Orders: 'Having English, American, And French Hairstyles Is In Violation Of Shari'a', Women Cannot Carry Cellphones Or Take Selfies, Shaving Beards And Having Music In Mobile Phones Are Outlawed

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Afghan Taliban organization) has yet to be recognized internationally as the legal and legitimate government of Afghanistan. However, the Islamic Emirate officials have begun executing orders for the enforcement of Islamic shari'a tenets, as detailed below.

 
A copy of the Islamic Emirate's September 16 order

On September 16, 2021, the Islamic Emirate's Commission for Recruitment and Invitation in the Nijrab district of Afghanistan's Kapisa province ordered women to observe hijab, not to carry mobile phones with cameras, and not to travel without a mehram (i.e., the woman's male relatives by blood, such as a father, brother, husband, uncle, or, if she is married, her husband). The order effectively bans selfies by Afghan girls.

The Taliban Commission warned that growing English and French hairstyles is against the teachings of Islam and young people must abandon this un-Islamic practice.

Following is the translation of the statement issued in Dari, one of the two major languages spoken in Afghanistan:[1]

"The Islamic Emirate Of Afghanistan

"Recruitment and Invitation Commission, Nijrab District of Kapisa province

"9-2-1443H

"All the respected and religious people of Nijrab District are advised to take the below points seriously and implement them in their true sprit for the protection of their own and their families' honor.

"1. Having English, American, and French hairstyles is in violation of shari'a and the youth must stop these practices. The barbers should also stop shaving beards as shaving the beard is a great sin in Islam.

"2. [Males] must wear a cap on their heads, especially when offering prayers.

"3. The sitting of women and girls on roadsides without covering their heads is strictly prohibited. They should stop doing so. Otherwise, legal action will be taken against their guardians such as their fathers, brothers, or maternal or paternal uncles.

"4. Women and girls should not carry mobile phones with cameras.

"5. Women and girls cannot go out or on a trip without a mehram, and they must observe Islamic hijab.

"6. All drivers and car owners are asked not to allow women without observing Islamic hijab to ride in their vehicles.

"7. Prayer leaders in mosques are seriously requested to explain [the importance of] Islamic hijab to the people in light of the Koran and Hadith [the sayings and deeds of Muhammad, founder of Islam].

"8. Prayer leaders in mosques are seriously urged to explain the obligation of jihad to people in light of Koran and Sunnah [traditions] of Prophet Muhammad.

"9. The presence of songs and immoral films on youths' mobile phones is prohibited.

"10. The prayer leaders of mosques must identify those who do not offer prayer or do not come to the mosque.

"11. Sending fruit or winter [clothes] to the house of one's fiancé on the occasion of Eid and Nowroz is prohibited.

The Taliban order bans selfies by Afghan girls

"12. [Celebratory] firing of weapons at wedding ceremonies is prohibited. Expenses like rice, ghee [a kind of butter], and vegetables taken from the son-in-law [to be] in a wedding or engagement ceremony is now prohibited. Only 20 men and 14 women [from the groom's side] must go [to the bridegroom's house] at the time of the engagement. Beverages and cakes are not permissible in a marriage ceremony.

"13. In a marriage ceremony only rice, qurma [a meat dish], and bread must be served.

"14. Bringing special food and other things to engagement ceremonies is prohibited.

"15. The groom must not be compelled to buy gold on demand [by the bridegroom's family]. If he can [afford it], then there no is problem.

"16. The dowry [amount] will be announced later.

"We ask prayer leaders of mosques to implement the aforementioned points on the people. Violators will be treated seriously according to the law and will be punished.

"From the officials of the Recruitment and Invitation Commission Nijrab District.

"[Seal of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan]"

Taliban Information And Culture Director In Herat Province: "Music Is Forbidden In Islam"

Naeemul Haq Haqqani, head of the Islamic Emirate's Information and Culture Commission in Herat province, has declared that "music is forbidden in Islam."[2]

According to an Afghan media report, Naeemul Haq Haqqani explained that music's place in Islam is clearly defined and the Islamic Emirate has its views on music within the Islamic definition: "Our religion forbids all kind of music. Music has no place in the religion of Islam."[3]

Naeemul Haq Haqqani emphasized: "It is about the prophet of Islam. When someone was playing a 'reed,' he stopped it. This statement is valid because the 'reed' conveys the song of the devil, [Muhammad] concluded."

The Taliban-led Afghan Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice also recently banned live music at weddings.

Taliban's Commission For Promotion Of Virtue Bans Music And Shaving Of Beards

The Islamic Emirate's Commission for Invitation and Guidance and Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Helmand province has warned barbers and owners of public baths not to shave beards or play music in their shops.

The Commission's notice dated Safar 19, 1443 (September 26, 2021), which was issued with the signatures of two officials of the provincial Commission for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, said: "As you know that the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice is fully operational, you are immediately warned that shaving beards and playing music in barbers' shops and [public] baths is strictly prohibited from today and tomorrow. You must be aware."[4]

"If the shaving of beards and playing of music is proven to have taken place in anyone's shop or bath, they will be treated according to shari'a and as per principle. They will have no right of complaint," it added.[5]

The notice carries the logo of the Islamic Emirate and signatures of Maulvi Toryalay and Maulvi Pohanyar, who are officials from the Commission of Invitation, and Guidance, and Recruitment and Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Helmand province.

Afghan Website: The Bitter Nightmare Of Musicians In Herat Province

According to a Dari-language newspaper, some musicians have left Afghanistan due to the suffocating environment following the Taliban takeover of the country.[6] As there is no toleration of music under the Taliban, all musicians' centers and offices in Herat have been closed, it noted.[7] According to the musicians' union, there were more than 80 musical groups before the Taliban came into power, but none of them remain active.

The Taliban's order banning music in Helmand province

Etilaatroz.com, an independent newspaper whose journalists have faced the Taliban's persecution in recent weeks, reported that most of the musicians and singers migrated to Iran out of fear of the Taliban while those who remain are in despair. "I left Afghanistan with crying eyes, and I knew that there is no place for singers under Taliban rule. I wish we could continue our work in our own country," the newspaper quoted young folk singer Qasim Jami as saying.[8]

To make ends meet, some musicians perform secretly at parties while others have shifted to Islamic music by singing songs of praise at wedding parties, the newspaper said, adding that Herat, which is famous for musical instruments, had been home to about ten workshops before the Taliban seized power on August 15, 2021, all of which are closed now.[9]

Ramin Farhamand established an Islamic music group that now performs Islamic music at wedding ceremonies. He said that he had performed at ten events in a week and that demand is increasing. History is repeating itself in Afghanistan as the Taliban had banned music during their first rule from 1996-2001 and have banned it again, the newspaper added.