A Taliban leader has stated that music will now be banned in the country and that women will no longer be able to go out in public for extended periods of time without a male chaperone.
The statement from Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid also said that the Taliban regime will be more liberal than when it previously ran the country from 1996 to 2001. In that time period, women were stoned to death for alleged crimes such as adultery and others were executed for blasphemy.
The spokesman said:
"Music is forbidden in Islam, but we're hoping that we can persuade people not to do such things, instead of pressure them. We want to build the future and forget what happened in the past."
The Taliban regime is based on a strict interpretation of Islam that is rejected by most Muslims and most Islamic leaders.
While women will require a chaperone to leave the house for long-trips, they will be permitted to go to work and to shop. The Taliban also say they will not ban the education of girls. Previously, women were denied a right to education in the country on account of their gender. There have also been claims that no women will also no longer be required to wear a face-covering burka, but time will tell how many of these promises the Taliban keep.
The Taliban took power as the US withdrew from the country and the Afghan government and army collapsed. The Taliban had been fighting a 20-year war against US and NATO forces after being deposed from power following the 9/11 attacks.
In the same interview, the Taliban spokesman argued that the United States should not be taking in refugees or asylum seekers from the country, saying:
"They shouldn't interfere in our country and take out our human resources: doctors, professors and other people we need here. In America, they might become dishwashers or cooks. It'sIt's inhuman."
Over recent weeks thousands of Afghans have tried to flee the country, many via Kabul airport, as many fear for their life from the new Taliban regime. Those fleeing fear that they will be killed by the Taliban for assisting the US and NATO forces or because they are linked to the former Afghan government or military.
[h/t: Daily Mail]
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