Belgium's Foreign Minister, Hadja Lahbib, has asserted that the Taliban's 'Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' law is intended to remove half of Afghanistan's population from the public sphere.

In a statement posted on social platform X on Saturday, 24th August, Lahbib stressed the need to amplify the voices of women in Afghanistan.

She also reiterated Belgium's commitment to supporting civil society and those advocating for their rights.

Last month, Minister Lahbib highlighted on the same platform that the Taliban's return to power had led to a significant regression in human rights, with a particular impact on women's rights.

On Wednesday, 21st August, the Taliban announced that their leader had ratified the 'Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice' law.

The law imposes stringent restrictions on women, including mandatory full-body covering, and declares that "a woman's voice is a form of indecency."

This legislation has sparked widespread condemnation from human rights activists and the international community.