Kabul: The Taliban government has strongly rejected the United Nations' criticism of its newly enacted morality law, labeling it an affront to Islamic values.
This response comes after the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) warned that the law, which further restricts women's rights, could harm the country's prospects for engagement with the international community.
In a statement issued late Thursday, the Taliban's Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (PVPV) declared it would no longer cooperate with UNAMA, referring to the mission as an "opposing side" due to what it described as continued propaganda.
The ministry urged international organizations, countries, and individuals who have criticized the new law to respect Islamic values and avoid making statements that could be seen as disrespectful to the religious beliefs of Muslims.
The 35-article morality law, which was officially published on July 31, mandates that women must fully cover themselves and refrain from raising their voices in public. While these prohibitions were already widely known, the formal enactment of the law is expected to increase the Taliban's control over the population.