ISLAMABAD (AP) — Afghan women are forbidden from praying loudly or reciting the Quran in front of other women, according to a Taliban government minister.
It’s the latest restriction on women following morality laws that ban them from raising their voice and baring their faces outside the home. They are already excluded from education after sixth grade, many public spaces and most jobs.
Nobody from the Vice and Virtue Ministry was immediately available Wednesday to clarify the official’s remarks or confirm if the prohibition would also become part of the morality laws.
During an event in eastern Logar province on Sunday, Vice and Virtue Minister Khalid Hanafi said: “It is prohibited for a grown woman to recite Quranic verses or perform recitations in front of another grown woman. Even chants of takbir (Allahu Akbar) are not permitted.”
He said that uttering similar expressions like “subhanallah,” another word central to the Islamic faith, was also not allowed. A woman was not permitted to perform the call to prayer, he told the gathering. “So, there is certainly no permission for singing.”
Audio of Hanafi’s remarks was shared on the ministry’s social media platforms but was later deleted.
The ministry said Tuesday that a nationwide awareness program about the laws is underway involving ministry officials at provincial and district levels.
“Organising such programs will contribute to shaping public perception and increasing awareness of divine rulings,” the ministry added.
Afghan provinces are already barring the media from showing images of living things, another controversial and widely criticized feature of the morality laws.
The Taliban set up the ministry for the " propagation of virtue and the prevention of vice” after seizing power in 2021.
Since then, the ministry has enforced decrees issued by the Taliban leadership that have a disproportionate impact on women and girls, like dress codes, segregated education and employment, and having a male guardian when they travel.
FILE -Taliban fighters celebrate the third anniversary of the withdrawal of US-led troops from Afghanistan, in Lashkar Gah, Helmand province, southwestern Afghanistan, Aug. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdul Khaliq, File)
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Matvei Michkov scored from a sharp angle at the side the goal at 4:05 of overtime to give the Philadelphia Flyers a 5-4 comeback victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday night.
Anthony Richard and Bobby Brink tied it for Philadelphia midway through the third period with goals in a 2:03 span. Travis Sanheim and Travis Konecny also scored. Ivan Fedotov made 33 saves.
Brady Tkachuk, Drake Batherson, Josh Norris and Adam Gaudette scored for Ottawa, coming off road victories over Boston and Toronto. Linus Ullmark made 14 saves.
Flyers: The Flyers won after allowing two power-play goals.
Senators: The Senators have outshot their opponents 111-62 over their last three games.
Brink’s third-period goal on a drive to the net tied it with 7:15 left in the third.
The Senators scored on two of their six power plays and are 16 for 54 on the season.
The Flyers host Buffalo on Saturday night to open a five-game homestand. The Senators are at Carolina on Saturday night.
Ottawa Senators defenseman Travis Hamonic (23) tries to keep Philadelphia Flyers center Morgan Frost (48) away from the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Philadelphia Flyers right wing Travis Konecny (11) celebrates after his goal against the Ottawa Senators during second-period NHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov (82) makes a save as Ottawa Senators center Josh Norris (9) looks for a rebound during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Ottawa Senators right wing Drake Batherson (19) tries wrap the puck around the net of Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov, left, during second-period NHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Philadelphia Flyers right wing Bobby Brink (10) falls over Ottawa Senators goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) during third-period NHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Ottawa Senators right wing Drake Batherson, second from left, celebrates after his goal against the Philadelphia Flyers with center Tim Stutzle (18) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Ottawa Senators left wing Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates scoring against the Philadelphia Flyersduring the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Philadelphia Flyers right wing Garnet Hathaway (19) gets dragged down by Ottawa Senators defenseman Thomas Chabot (72) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Philadelphia Flyers right wing Tyson Foerster (71) and Ottawa Senators defenseman Artem Zub (2) watch the puck bounce after a save by goaltender Linus Ullmark (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov (82) stretches out with his pads to make a save as Ottawa Senators right wing Adam Gaudette (81) looks for the rebound behind the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Philadelphia Flyers right wing Matvei Michkov (39) celebrates with goaltender Ivan Fedotov (82) after defeating the Ottawa Senators in overtime of an NHL hockey game, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024 in Ottawa, Ontario. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
Philadelphia Flyers goaltender Ivan Fedotov (82) dives to cover the puck in front of Ottawa Senators center Josh Norris (9) during second-period NHL hockey game action in Ottawa, Ontario, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press via AP)
