A new decree by the Taliban authorities in Afghanistan permits husbands to physically discipline wives and children under strict limits, while also imposing fresh religious appearance rules on men, including mandatory beard length.
According to details emerging from Afghanistan, the new framework allows men to beat their wives and children provided the punishment does not result in “broken bones or open wounds.” If a husband seriously injures his wife with a stick, he could face up to 15 days in jail — but the burden of proof rests entirely on the woman, who must testify in court fully covered and in the presence of the alleged abuser.
The decree also bans women from seeking refuge with relatives to escape domestic abuse. Those who leave their homes without authorization may face up to three months in jail.
At the same time, the Taliban’s morality authorities are tightening restrictions on men. Under rules issued by the so-called Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, men must grow beards longer than the width of a fist. Short beards are reportedly prohibited on the grounds that they make men “look like women,” and several barbers have already been detained for trimming facial hair too short.
